Karen Ahlschlager was born in East London, South Africa in 1970. She graduated with a National Higher Diploma in Graphic Design (majoring in illustration). This was followed by studying oil painting at the Michael Pettit School of Art in Cape Town.

She initially started her career as a graphic designer, book designer and computer graphics lecturer. As a commercial illustrator Karen has worked for numerous corporations, publishers and editorials such as Sun International, Drum Magazine and McGraw-Hill Publishers in Australia. Commissioned artwork can be delivered on CD or sent via e-mail.