| Debbie Gillingham |
| Long Bio: |
I was born and raised in Somerset i was part of a large family. Being the eldest, I often amused myself by painting and drawing, In those days it was felt tip pens and poster paints! I was living in a small village, surrounded by horses and ponies, which developed my fascination with the animal kingdom. Artistically, horses were my first subject, primarily as a way of fulfilling my dreams of having my own pony. After i spent many years of riding other peoples ponies, my parents realised my dedication and bought me a pony. I attended Somerset College of Art and Technology, where I completed a two-year course in Design and Clothing Manufacture. In 1990, having decided to pursue a career in equestrian art, I moved to Newmarket, Suffolk - this being the core of the countrys flat racing industry. It seemed the most obvious choice. By day I worked as a stable hand, riding out and grooming the horses, at night I would paint them. I worked hard to gain as much reference and knowledge as I possibly could, which ultimately led to me taking on commissions. After several years, I moved to Dubai, UAE, where the horse racing industry was rapidly expanding. It was at this point that I decided to concentrate on becoming a full-time artist and my career began to flourish with an increase in commissions and the popularity of my work in galleries. more artists at collect-art.com Debbie Gillingham's Collection |