Born in Scotland, Denise trained at Glasgow University and the Royal College of Music, London.

She was principal soprano with Glyndebourne Opera, Welsh National Opera, Scottish National Opera, English National Opera, English Touring Opera and Royal Opera House.

Furthermore, she was involved in various performances in Malta with Teatru Anon, MADC, Teatru Manoel, DNA, FM Productions.

Directing credits include Peculiars, Club, The Three Sunsets, Rubbish and Hush (TMYT); Pagliacci, Elisir d’amore, Orphée, Dido & Aeneas (Teatru Manoel); Elisir d’amore and Lucia di Lammermoor for Belle Ile-en-Mer Opera festival; Ernest and the Pale Moon (The Shrinking Violets); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Teatru Salesjan); It Teatru tal-Miskin (Saydon Studios).

Denise is also co-founder of The Shrinking Violets.