Esther Paterson commenced her art training at the National Gallery of Victoria school when she was thirteen. Her cartoons of 'flappers' were seen in The Bulletin, and she went on to be published in the Melbourne papers Punch and Argus. At the same time, Paterson was gaining a reputation as a portraitist and commercial artist. Her first collection of sketches, Aussie Girls was published in 1918, and her second book which included her sketches and a short story, 'Me' : A Page from My Diary followed shortly after.
Paterson was married to journalist and naval historian G. Hermon Gill. She often collaborated on illustrating books for children with her sister, Betty Paterson, who was also an author. Paterson and her husband collaborated on a number of works, including the series 'The Browns of Bangaroo'.
