Born in England, Sarah Stone gained recognition in the late 18th century for her meticulous documentation of natural history specimens. She was notably commissioned by Sir Ashton Lever to illustrate the extensive collection housed in his private museum, the Leverian Museum, which featured numerous artifacts and biological specimens gathered during Captain James Cook's voyages.

Stone primarily utilized watercolor to capture the anatomical precision of birds, mammals, and other fauna. Her illustrations are characterized by their scientific accuracy and aesthetic clarity, serving as essential visual references for naturalists of her time. Following her marriage, she was known as Sarah Smith.

Her legacy persists through the historical importance of her illustrations, which provide some of the earliest European visual records for various species native to Australia and the Pacific islands. Her work is frequently cited in studies concerning the intersection of colonial exploration and early biological classification.