Her mother was named Helen Cuthbertson (born Hopkins) while her father, James Keppie imported and sold tobacco.

She created a Persian carpet which took a silver medal in the National Competition during her second year of study in 1889.

She performed in an allegorical and historical Arthurian masque created by Jessie M King and Mrs Allan D Mainds.

Other participants in this event were the artists James Craig Annan, Agnes Raeburn, and Margaret Macdonald.

[5] Keppie was a member of the informal group of artists known as "The Immortals", which also included Agnes Raeburn, Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, Jessie Newbery, Ruby Pickering, Katharine Cameron, Janet Aitken and Frances McNair.