She displayed talent in drawing as a child, became a student of artist Burchardt Precht in 1722, at the age of nine, and was later a student of the artist Niclas Lafrenssen the Elder.
She was admired by Carl Gustav Tessin, and by the royal house.
She painted in oil and made drawings, but was foremost a miniaturist.
Among her clients were the king and the queen, king Frederick I of Sweden and queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden.
She married the city surgeon Hilfeling in 1739.
Her son, Carl Hilfeling, also became an artist.
Anna Maria Hilfeling died at Romelanda, Bohuslän.