Lauren was born in Portland, Ore. and moved almost every year with her family during Dad's career with the Navy. Her parents now live outside Los Angeles. Her was a father a former World War II Navy pilot and director of flight test operations for Northrop Aviation in Los Angeles and her brother, Craig, was a cinematographer for Northrop. After graduating with honors in fine arts from UCLA, Lauren later worked for three and a half years as a counselor in a halfway house for mental patients while she established herself as a professional artist in the Bay Area. Her paintings have been shown in 11 gallery exhibits, and she also freelances as a graphic artist and costume designer for theater groups.