Onya McCausland was born in Zennor, but now lives in London.

She is currently the Honorary Research Assistant at Slade School of Fine Art.

McCausland received a distinction in an MFA at Slade and a 1st class degree from Falmouth University. She has exhibited widely and been a visiting lecturer on numerous occasions. She has undertaken residences at Gloucester Cathedral and Bexley council, won a travel award to Lisbon from the British Council and the Boise Travel Scholarship to Egypt.

McCausland was shortlisted for the Wollaston Award at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, amd selected for the John Moores Painting prixe in 2012