Deborah graduated with a BA in Visual Arts in 1985 and a Post Graduate Diploma in 1987 from the City Art Institute.In 2011 she was awarded an MFA from the National Art School. She exhibits regularly and held her Master’s exhibition at the Charles Hewitt Gallery in 2011.

Deborah has been a finalist in numerous prizes, including the Portia Geach Memorial Award, Mosman Art Prize, Blake Prize and Stanhope Art Prize. She won the Hunters Hill Art Prize in 2008 and was highly commended again in 2012. Deborah was awarded the Cite International des Arts Paris Studio Residency in 2007.