Deborah is an art theorist, writer, curator and artist. She is the Head of Fine Art Critical Studies (FACS) at GSA.
Deborah holds a PhD and MSc in Contemporary Art Theory & Practice from the University of Edinburgh and a BA (Hons) in Fine Art Sculpture from the Glasgow School of Art. She is also the External Examiner for the University of Reading's MA Fine Art, and MA Creative Enterprise (since 2020) and for the University of Glasgow's Art History, and Visual Arts Studies programme. She was the Co-Lead Creative Art and Design Catalyst: Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) and a member of the Steering Committee for the National Association for Fine Art Education (NAFAE). Deborah was the Editor of the Routledge journal Visual Culture in Britain (2016-20).
She was co-Director of The Embassy gallery, Edinburgh (2006-09) and has acted in and consulting capacity across the wider professional community as a board member for local, regional, galleries and festivals including Glasgow’s CCA, Market Gallery (Chair of Board of Trustees), and the Edinburgh Arts Festival (EAF). She's also been on on various selection and interview panels for creative residency programmes including Collective Gallery, Talbot Rice Gallery, and the National Galleries of Scotland.
Prior to taking up her current role as head of Fine Art Critical Studies (FACS) at the Glasgow School of Art Deborah was a Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Art Theory & Practice at Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh (2006-22) where she held several leadership roles; ECA: Director of Visual Culture (2017-22); co-Director of ECA Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (2017-22); and Director of Postgraduate Research: PhD/MPhil – Art (2019-22).
Current PhD Students:
Rosa Santibañez Nuñez
Alberta Whittle
Nakul Krishnamurthy
Timothea Armour
Kelly Rappleye
PhD (2013)
'Shifting Focus of the Traditional Centres of Contemporary Art: Scotland's Evolving Position from Periphery to Prominence'
The University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh College of Art)
MSc (2006)
Contemporary Art Theory & Practice
Edinburgh College of Art
BA.Hons (1999)
Fine Art (Sculpture) with Distinction
