Tamsin Abbott studied English Literature at the University of Stirling, specialising in medieval literature. Set against the dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, Stirling provided a fitting backdrop to her studies, where the region's mountains, hills and wild scenery echoed the rich imaginative world of the texts she explored.

Abbott's fascination with the language and narratives of medieval literature was deepened by the illuminated manuscripts, paintings and woodcuts that accompanied them. Immersed in a world of romance, symbolism and folklore, she found herself captivated by both the written word and its visual expression. It was during this time that she began painting and writing for pleasure alongside her academic studies.

After relocating to rural Herefordshire, Abbott returned to education to complete a Foundation Diploma in Art at Gloucester College of Art and Technology. There she received rigorous training in life drawing and encountered the work of the Brotherhood of Ruralists, whose celebration of the British countryside and mythic imagination proved a lasting influence on her practice. Several years later, she enrolled in evening classes in stained glass at Hereford College of Art and Design, gaining an OCN qualification before continuing her studies in the medium for a further four years.

Once her children were at school, Abbott built a studio at home, creating a dedicated space in which to develop her artistic practice. She describes it as "her Narnia" – a place of peace, imagination and wonder, where painting, drawing and stained glass continue to shape her distinctive artistic vision.