Deborah has been dabbling in oils for over 30 years working closely with artists she admires – Poul Thrane (from whom she learned the love of painting outdoors and being in the moment); Mary Lampman (who beat some solid basics into her) and Lucy Manley (who celebrates Deborah’s love of pure colour and thick paint.) When she retired after 30 years in the justice system, she picked up the brushes with energy. 

“The opportunity for me as an artist is to look beyond what is before my eyes….and seek the hidden treasure trove of colour and bring it to life. Yes, there is mauve in the snow and pink in the sky and blue in the bark of a birch tree. There are endless colours reflected in a lake. The opportunity for you as the viewer is to be innocent of any preconceived notions of “what should be” and just enjoy the artist’s eye of “what could be.”  

“I drive all the backroads and ride endless trails on my horse in search of inspiration – and find gold in the marsh weeds and red in the water lilies. Why not be filled with the wonder of how many blues there are next time you look at the sky?” 

“I encourage you to step back and soak up the paintings from across the room. Let your eyes rest on the symphony of colours, perhaps altering your perspective on a simple landscape and bringing it to life in a new way. Colour can be a powerful emotional trigger. My hope is that the work stirs happy memories, warms your heart and surprises and delights your inner child. Welcome to my colourful viewpoint!”