deborah withey

Deborah is a working visual journalist, illustrator, print designer and tutor. Before moving to the UK in February 2009, she held the post of deputy managing editor for presentation and joint venture publications at The Virginian-Pilot, an American newspaper with an international reputation for excellence in conceptual illustration, photojournalism, and narrative journalism. Deborah conceived and led the multi award-winning redesign of The Pilot in 2006.

Previous to her The Virginian-Pilot editorship, she was the corporate design director for Knight Ridder Newspapers, design director of the Detroit Free Press and illustrator and art director for several metropolitan newspapers. She is a past-president of the international Society of News Design, winning awards for her art direction, design and illustration work.

In 2009, Deborah received the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the United States Department of the Army for her illustrations for “Children of Valor”, a book written for military families who have lost loved ones in the current conflicts. She is currently illustrating a book of Norweigan psalms. Deborah has exhibited at the New York Art Director’s Club and American Illustration exhibits in NYC, New York, as well as in Dallas, Texas, Detroit, Michigan, Milford Haven and in St. Davids, Wales.

Teaching is a love of Deborah’s, she was a visiting scholar at the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, teaching courses on color, design and illustration as well as other universities in the USA. She now enjoys giving private instruction from her Pembrokeshire studio, teaching for Learning Pembrokeshire and leading workshops for Oriel y Parc, St. Davids. She continues her freelance illustration work for Innovation International Media Consulting Group and other clients around the world.

As a fine artist Deborah is currently working on a new series of work: Gyotaku (Japanese fish printing) prints and Pembrokeshire medieval charcters with sea stone and beach detritus. She invites you to view her illustrations and new work by visiting deborah-withey.com or at stdavidsstudiogallery.co.uk.