Debbie Mackinnon

Debbie Mackinnon loves to be immersed in nature. Walking and drawing outside are fundamental to her creative process. A keen observer, she draws inspiration from the colours and forms of the Australian landscape. Her images of rugged coastlines and wild bushland are abstracted, combining multiple elements observed over time. As such, her work is record of the sensory experience of a place. 

Most of Mackinnon’s works begin with drawing. Her sketchbook is an essential travel companion which she uses to explore and document new places. Her paintings then develop more slowly in the studio. Embracing the unknown, she allows the work to develop intuitively, responding to her field notes and memories. She utilises oil and acrylic paints in a multi-layered technique, also incorporating elements of collage and mixed media. The result is energetic and tactile artworks that celebrate both the landscape and the art making process.

Mackinnon was born in England and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Design & Illustration) from Middlesex University in London. She now lives and works in Sydney. She has presented multiple solo exhibitions over the last 15 years and been a finalist in numerous prizes. These include the North Sydney Art Prize, Gosford Art Prize, Moran Portrait Prize, Mosman Art Prize, and Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing. In 2018 she won the Art In The Open prize. Mackinnon began her association with Becker Minty in 2022.