Boswijk was born in Christchurch in 1939, the daughter of Edna Frances (née King) and the Reverend Matthew Alexander McDowell.
[5] After completing her diploma she returned to Nelson and became a full time potter producing ware intended for domestic use.
[5] In 1988, Boswijk gained a postgraduate diploma with honours from the National Art School, East Sydney Technical College.
[8][5] Major exhibitions she has participated in include Treasures of the Underworld at the 1992, Seville World Expo,[14] Kisses, Crosses and Flowers in 2007, at Milford Galleries, Queenstown and Before Words, in 2010 at Woollaston Estate, Nelson.
[6] In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to ceramic arts.