Spencer trained as a teacher that the Bath Academy of Art between 1960 and 1963. During her studies, she became familiar with the ‘Systems’ movement artists: a radical group who created modern, minimalist and conceptual artwork, linked to the wider environment’s structured systems and processes. During her teaching career, she began to create abstract relief works in simple white blocks and colour, based upon mathematical rules and processes in line with the Systems’ group theories. Spencer’s first solo exhibition was held at Oxford’s Bear Lane Gallery in 1965 and in 1967, won a prize at the prestigious John Moores exhibition. She continued to exhibit widely with the Systems artists and studied History and Theory of Art at Sussex University. In 1997 she married artist Malcolm Hughes. Two years later, the Tate Gallery held a memorial exhibition for both Spencer and Hughes.