Born in Sydney, Australia, she is a costume and production designer. She is a specialist in period costume from the 19th century. All four of her Oscar nominated films are of that era. A noted recluse who rarely does interviews or attends awards ceremony's, between jobs she returns to a quite home life with her family.
During the memorial montage tribute at the 2017 Academy Awards, the late Patterson's friend and collaborator Jan Chapman's image is the one that was erroneously displayed on the auditorium screen.