[1][2] Hillson, who had studied at Saint Martin's School of Art,[3] started out as an illustrator for publications such as Vogue UK, The Sunday Times, and The Observer in the early 1950s.
Hillson returned to Saint Martin's School of Art to teach on the fashion diploma course in 1956.
[6] While at Saint Martin's, Hillson was one of the first people to recognise the potential of Alexander McQueen, offering him a place on the course when he approached her about a cutter's job.
[1][2] When McQueen received an honorary doctorate from Saint Martins, he thanked Hillson first of all.
[7] In addition to McQueen, Hillson's former students include John Galliano, Stephen Jones, Rifat Özbek and Sonja Nuttall.