Lewis was good friends with Samuel Bowden, who took an interest in helping her publish. Together, they published in various periodicals, Lewis under the pseudonym 'Sylvia.' When she moved to Tetbury after marrying, she became actively involved in local charities. "In 1774 she donated £50 for the maintenance of alms women in the town." Her only volume of poetry was published in 1789; although Lewis demonstrated considerable talent in "wit" and "acute social observation," her work was largely ignored by contemporary reviewers.