Violet was born in the cold north, surrounded by a community of outdoorsmen and artists. She spent her childhood drawing, painting and spending time with her beloved Aunt who was a highly respected artist. Summer days were spent in the alpine meadows sketching wild flowers. Violet became a prolific sketcher and by the age of 16 she decided to explore the world of her older sister. She set off taking the bare necessities: a sketch book, small set of watercolors and a large back pack. For two years the girls traveled through Western Europe. It was there that she began collecting vintage postcards and ephemera at old antique stores and flea markets.