Artist Profile
Born in Lanark, Deborah now works and lives in Edinburgh. Approached by a local gallery at the age of sixteen, she enjoyed her first group exhibition while still at school. It was to be some time before she could begin a formal art education. This she did in Chicago and then New York where the fundamentals of drawing, painting and design cemented her lifelong passion for all things art. She then completed a Graphic Design course at Edinburgh College while working as a botanical illustrator with the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Her studies were interspersed with work over a number of years, firstly as a design practitioner and latterly as a lecturer. During this time she gained a Masters Degree from Glasgow School of Art, focusing on the emerging art based gift industry within museum and gallery environments. She later secured a fully funded PhD from Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen exploring design theory and practice.
Deborah gave up her teaching post to fully focus on her art practice in 2011.
From that time Deborah has had her first solo exhibition in London, then Aberdeen and Edinburgh. She has also taken part in a number of group exhibitions in major galleries throughout Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. As a regular exhibitor at the Royal Scottish Academy, Deborah has secured a number of new collectors. Her work is much saught after and held in private collections in the UK, Germany, USA and Canada.
Working in oils is Deborah's first choice: always challenging herself to improve technique and develop subject matter, while embracing contemporary and traditional themes. Each piece has its own unique journey.
Deborah's work can be seen in Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh where she is represented as a gallery artist. The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh is showing Deborah's work on-line from 30.11.21 in their 'Small Scale' exhibition. Her work can be purchased through these galleries or by contacting Deborah direct. A limited number of commissions are taken each year. To discuss any of this further please get in touch.
CV
2011 - 2017
Professional Design Associate - Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen.
2003 - 2011
Lecturer - Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen.
2003 - 2007
PhD (fully funded) - Gray's School of Art, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
2000 - 2003
Lecturer - Napier University, Edinburgh.
2000 - 2002
PGCE Teaching and Learning in Higher Education - Napier University, Edinburgh.
1998 - 2000
Master of Design - Glasgow School of Art.
1993 - 2000
Freelance / In-house Graphic Designer - Edinburgh.
1988 - 1993