Ann Oram was born in London in 1956. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art between 1976 and 1982. She became a part-time lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art between 1983 and 1985, and again in 1991 to 1993. Ann was elected to RSW in 1986. Following that, she was a visiting lecturer at the University of Northumbria in 1988.

Awards include:
Carnegie Travelling Scholarship, Royal Scottish Academy Student Exhibition 1980; Andrew Grant Travelling Scholarship to New York, 1981; Largo Award, Edinburgh College of Art, 1981; Andrew Grant Major Award, 1981 & 1982; May Marshall Brown Award (RSW), 1991; William Gillies Award (RSW), 1998.