About the artist

Deborah Ní Chaoimhe was born in Galway in 1971. She grew up on the Curragh of Kildare. 

She studied ceramics and fine art in Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design (now IADT) from 1989 – 1993. 

In 2014 Deborah completed a Masters in Art Therapy (Hons) and opened her private practice in Clonakilty in 2015. Prior to that she worked as a community artist for fifteen years. During this time she exhibited in multiple exhibitions and has been awarded several grants from the Arts Council, including a two-year Artist in Residence grant from Kildare County Council, for a project called Guth ón bPortach (Voice of the Bog). Several galleries including the Private Collectors Gallery in Innishannon have represented Deborah. 

The haven she and her husband have created on their organic farm in Clonakilty influences Deborah’s  work in painting, sculpture and ceramics. She is fascinated by the idea of 'the veil between worlds’ which is often referred to in old Irish tradition. She considers her current paintings to be  ‘Soulscapes' or 'Portals' which is her way of honouring loved ones who have passed on as well as celebrating life. Each impasto image is built up with multitudinous layers of paint which are often scraped back in places to reveal hidden treasures.