Olivia studied at the RNCM, the English National Opera's The Knack, and the GSMD, receiving a fellowship to Aspen, Colorado to study with Susanne Mentzer.

Recent operatic engagements include the title role in La Cenerentola for both English Pocket Opera and London Opera Productions; Smeraldina in Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges with English Pocket Opera; Maddelena in Rigoletto with Live action Opera; Irene in Handel's Theodora for Opéra de Baugé, France; the Voice of the Mother in The Tales of Hoffmann with Mid Wales Opera Carmen, Carmen, Pavilion Opera, Mananan Arts Festival, Isle of Mann; Annina, La Traviata, Pavilion Opera; Esmeralda, The Bartered Bride, Mid Wales Opera; Pulcheria in Handel's Riccardo Primo, Opéra de Baugé, France; Tisbe, Cenerentola, OperaFour; Carmen, Carmen, Opera Brava; Dido, Dido and Aeneas for Minotaur Productions and for Cannon Scholars; Cenerentola, Cenerentola, Minotaur Productions; Olga, Eugene Onegin, Scottish Opera On Tour; Mrs Kneebone, Berkeley's A Dinner Engagement, Opera East; Terynka (dancer), Cunning Little Vixen and Ino (cover), Semele, BYO; Nadine, John Lunn's workshop production of Tangier Tattoo, Glyndebourne and Melanto, Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria, GSMD.

Oratorio and concert experience includes St John Passion, St Matthew Passion, Magnificat (C.P.E.Bach, J.S Bach); Nuits D'ete; Spring Symphony (Britten); Requiem (Duruflé); Sea Pictures, Music Makers; Messiah, Theodora, Dixit Dominus; Nelson Mass, Harmoniemesse; Coronation Mass, Requiem, Vesperes Solomnes; Miserere (Scarlatti); Gloria (Vivaldi).

Prizes include Fellowship, Aspen Music Festival and School, Colorado (2003); Lillian Baylis Bursary, The Knack, ENO (2002); Clare Croiza Prize for French Song, RNCM (2001); John Cameron Special Lieder Prize, RNCM (2000).