Born in the District of Columbia, Custis was exposed, at a very early age to the Washington arts community. Executed in 1913, "Girl With Cockatoo" is her first known, and dated watercolor.

In 1915 she enrolled in the fall classes at the Corcoran School of Art. She completed a full time, 3-year program in 1918, the year Edmund Tarbell became the principal of the school. She continued her studies at the Corcoran enrolling in many classes between 1919 and 1925. She also studied with Henry Snell during the summers of 1924 and 1925 in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. After 1926 she made many trips to Europe painting in a number of countries.

Custis was an active member of the Washington arts community. She served as an officer of the Washington Watercolor Club, the Arts Club and with other local groups and regularly participated in their exhibitions. She exhibited with Vose Galleries in Boston, the American Watercolor Society and participated in many annual presentations of the Grand Central Art Galleries in New York.

After 1935 her principal interest turned to the camera and she later became known as the "First Lady of Photography." Her photos illustrated many books and magazines and she was the author and illustrator of an 8 volume set "Composition and Pictures" published in 1947.

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton