Debra Woodward began studying oil painting with Amesbury, MA oil painter Bob Richardson in 2017, and in October 2018, two of her paintings were accepted into the Newburyport Art Associations’ Annual Fall Members Juried Show. In July 2018 and 2019, she attended Mr. Richardson’s plein air oil painting workshop on Monhegan Island; and in November 2018 they shared a Featured Artist exhibit entitled “A Vibrant Palette” at the Seacoast Artist Association in Exeter, NH, where she is a hanging member and chair of their scholarship committee. Debra is a juried member of the NH Art Association in Portsmouth, NH, where she previously served on the Board of Directors, and in October 2019, she had her first Body of Work show of oils there, entitled “Not Too Late”. Most recently, her painting “Vaucluse” was accepted into their 2020 Lassonde Open Juried Exhibition.

Debra has taken two abstract painting courses with Tom Glover at Sanctuary Arts in Eliot, Maine. She studies drawing with Susan Spellman at the Newburyport Art Association where she is also a member. Debra’s photographs were accepted into their 2019 Fall Members Juried Show, 2016 Open Annual Juried Show, and in 2014, her “Purple Blanket” was awarded Best in Photography at their Winter Juried Exhibition. Debra is a member of the Kittery Art Association, the NH Society of Photographic Artists, and Seacoast Open Studio in Exeter. Debra has exhibited at the League of NH Craftsmen Annual Fair at Sunapee; Firehouse Gallery in Newburyport, MA and Alpers Fine Art in Andover, MA; Blue Moon Evolution Organic Restaurant in Exeter; Beach Pea Baking Company in Kittery, Maine; the Hampton, Rye, Newington, and Epsom Public Libraries; Exeter Hospital; as well as the NH Children’s Museum and New England Center for Photography at Camera Commons.

An avid photographer since childhood, Debra studied for six years with photographer Robert Chiller of West Newbury, MA. In 2014, Debra and Mr. Chiller shared an exhibit titled “The Moment It Clicked: The Mentor-Mentee Relationship in Photography” at the NH Art Association’s East Gallery. Her work has been accepted into the NHAA Parfitt Photography Exhibition every year since 2011. She was also accepted into their Lassonde Open Juried Exhibitions in 2015 and 2016; as well as the annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Juried Exhibitions in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018. In 2017, her photograph “Escargot” won Honorable Mention. Her photograph of the tall ship the Oliver Hazard Perry docked at nighttime behind the Sheafe Warehouse in Portsmouth was selected as their annual Sheafe Warehouse summer show puzzle and sold out the first month. Her 2017 solo exhibit entitled “Tuscan Laundry” was followed by a well-reviewed show “Café Life” shared with NH oil painter Peggy Murray.

A NH native, Debra worked in the book business for 40 years, including seven as a buyer for Barnes and Noble in New York City. She lives in Seacoast NH with her husband, Terry Dostie and three fabulous felines adopted from the NHSPCA in Stratham.

She can be reached at woodwardda@aol.com.

My Artwork

Samples of Debra’s works (click any image for slideshow).