After her birth in Haarlem, Annie Borst Pauwels moved one after the other to Hoensbroek, Amsterdam and The Hague. In this city she attended the academy and some time later traveled to Paris for a year. When she returned to The Hague, she mainly painted children engrossed in their play and dolls that she depicted almost as living beings. Additionally, her favorite subjects were beach scenes and animals, which she painted in her own impressionistic style. The painter was an active member of the Pulchri Studio for many years.