[2] After leaving school, she gained a place at the St Hild's Women's Teacher Training College (now part of the University of Durham) where she graduated with a degree in geography.
On behalf of the NDS Douglas helped to acquire examples of high quality needlework and embroidery from around the world, to be used as demonstration pieces and teaching tools for adults and children.
Douglas frequently deployed bright, contrasting colours such as red, black and white, to depict stylised or unusual beasts, birds and fish in her designs.
In December 2019, The University of Edinburgh College of Art held a special 2 month-long exhibition, entitled 'Touching Stitches', to show off items from its historic NDS collection of embroidery.
[5] In addition to revealing rarely-displayed work, the exhibition highlights how Douglas' samples were used by ECA as a valuable teaching tool for groups of women, including refugees, prisoners and visually impaired.
The books passed on the knowledge and skills gained through her own artistic endeavours and her experience in the Needlework Development Scheme to future generations of sewers and embroiderers.