Sometimes I create in my dreams.

Deborah Bottorff was raised in Southern California where her many childhood visits to the exciting Laguna Beach art scene set her on the path to become an artist. While living in Texas, she studied at the Art Institute of Dallas and Southern Methodist University. Deborah joined a partnership in a Texas gallery and her artwork was the feature of several one-woman exhibitions and various commissions. She was a professor at the prestigious Art Institute of Dallas and also served as a guest speaker to art students at several universities.

Deborah has also served as the Chairwoman of the Boynton Beach Arts Commission Board contributing her artistic background to help the city to expand a vibrant "Arts in Public Places" program. 

Deborah has given back to the community by mentoring children at the Milagro Center in Delray Beach -- an arts and educational program for children from low-income families. She also served as an art instructor at the center. 
She has also taught a charitable mosaic class for the House of Hope Enrichment Program.
She has donated her time and work to various charitable programs  in Martin County.

She has been a Premier member of the Gold Coast Public Relations (PR) Council and served on the organization's board where she received the coveted "Founders Award." She has been a member of the Delray Art League, the Cultural Council of Palm Beach and was chosen to participate as a committee member to draft the City of Boynton Beach Brand Promise.
She is currently a member or the Martin Artisans Guild, Martin Arts, the Historical Society of Martin County and the Hobe Sound Art League.

She shows at the Bridge Road Fine Arts Gallery, Palm Room Gallery, Cultural Courthouse, the Elliot Museum, the Backus Museum, Galley 14 Vero Beach, Jensen Beach Art Festival, Hobe Sound Art Festival, and Northwood Art and Music.

Deborah was the winner of the Creek District Mosaic Competition and has a permanent mosaic installation in the sidewalk of a children’s park in Stuart.
She has participated in a show for the Lighthouse for the Blind in Palm Beach, where over 70 vision-impaired people had an opportunity to touch her art and recognize shapes they have never previously experienced. 
Deborah was the winner of the 2023 Hobe Sound Christmas Parade T-Shirt Design Contest. 1500 Shirts will be distributed during the event.

Deborah lived in Sweden for several years where she continued to pursue her creative calling, interpreting the beautiful landscapes into her own form of expressionist work. Her time in Sweden also introduced her to famous Swedish songwriter, Lasse Berghagen. He recognized Deborah for her talents as a musical composer and writer and invited her to collaborate on a number of his recorded works.

Her work is currently on permanent display at the Bridge Road Fine Arts Gallery in Hobe Sound.
 
She devotes her time to creative endeavors; painting, writing and composing music. Other interests include golf, competitive tennis, organic gardening and exploring Florida's coastal reefs. She lives and works in Stuart, Florida with her husband Peter and two cats.