Karen Strang studied Drawing and Painting at Glasgow School of Art. She graduated in 1985, also being awarded the Newberry Medal. She then studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

Over the years, she has worked in a wide variety of arts media, such as performance, film, bookworks and installation.

She is a professional member of the Society of Scottish Artists and a member of the Stirling-based Hanging Together artists' group, as well as the Bigos group of artists of Polish origin.