Debra is originally from Headingley, Manitoba which is a small town just five minutes drive outside Winnipeg.  Most of her time was spent painting and drawing flora and fauna of the prairies.  Besides her art she also has a love of the great outdoors and would spend many hours fishing, hiking, swimming, cross country skiing, kayaking or any other outdoor sport.  

In the 1980' s she was involved with the St.James Art Club of Winnipeg where she won many juried shows in watercolour.  She then went on to art school at Sturgeon Creek Collegiate where she received with honors a certificate in Advertising Arts majoring in wildlife illustration.  The work practicum was completed at the Manitoba Wildlife Federation where she spent 3 months illustrating for their publications.

In 2000 Debra and her family moved to Vancouver Island where she set up studio and started illustrating on a full time basis.  Her work is done in coloured pencil with a hint of watercolour in the background sometimes.  All of the artists subjects are also photographed and researched by her.

Debra is now a full juried member of the Vancouver Island Illustrators Society as of 2006 and is actively showing her originals from all of her books.

The "Secret Series" of children's nature books began in 2005 from her studio in the Cowichan Valley.  Since the release of "Hidden Treasures"  in 2005 she has both illustrated and written "Secret Jewels" "Precious Gems" and as of 2007 "Sacred Charms" and “Magic Pearls”.

                        "An artist is a dreamer consenting to dream of the actual world."

George Santayana

Copyright © 2008 Debra Thomlinson, Designed by Twisted Realm