Carter was the daughter of Walter Vavasour of Weston in Yorkshire, and Ellen, his wife, daughter of Edward Elmsall of Thornhill in the same county. She was born in 1762, and baptised at Street Olave"s Church, York, on 16 May. At an early age, though a Protestant, she was placed in a convent at Rouen, with which her family had been connected for some generations.
Though strongly affected by the surrounding influence of the Roman Catholic religion, she never actually forsook her own religion, and after her return to England she became well known for her devotion to her church. Her husband became the head-master of Lincoln Grammar School, and incumbent of Saint Swithin"s church. Mistress Carter was devoted to artistic pursuits, and particularly excelled in drawing the human figure.
She drew illustrations for the Archæologia, The Gentleman"s Magazine, and other similar works.
She died on 22 September 1815 and was buried in the churchyard of Saint Peter in Eastgate, Lincoln.
