Eileen Cooper was born in 1953 at Glossop in Derbyshire.  She studied at Goldsmiths College, London from 1971 – 74 and the Royal College of Art from 1974 – 77.

Her first solo exhibition was held in 1979 at the Air Gallery.  She has subsequently exhibited widely throughout the UK;  from 1988 she has held regular exhibitions at Benjamin Rhodes Gallery and subsequently Art First.  Her work has been included in Group exhibitions in Europe, the USA, the Far East and Australia.

In 2011 she was elected Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools, the first woman to hold the position since the founding of the Academy in 1768 by Sir Joshua Reynolds.