Debbie Hughbanks
American/Washington b. 1955
Biography
Debbie Hughbanks was born in Arvada, Colorado, on November 8, 1955. She moved to Maryville, Missouri, when she was five years old and remained there until 6th grade, or so. She then spent 14 months in Germany, where her step-father was stationed with the Army. Then she moved to Spokane, Washington, in 1967.
Debbie Hughbanks is a primarily self-taught artist living in eastern Washington State at Loon Lake. She works most often in acrylic and pastel and often explores western and/or wildlife related themes in her work, as well as painting horses, dogs and other domestic animals including pet portaits. She is also a muralist.
Debbie Hughbanks completed a large public art project in Spokane, Washington for Ronald McDonald House Charities, which involved the painting of two large fiberglass bears similar to the Painted Ponies in the southwest or the Cows in Chicago. She has also created artwork for the Wolf Education and Research Center to help in their fundraising efforts. In early 2006 her submission was one of twenty (20) selected from over 400 to compete in The Trail of Painted Ponies’ Native Art of Horse Painting Competition. Her entry, “Kindred Spirits,” ultimately won the Contemporary Culture Award through National online voting. Debbie also won an Award of Merit at the 2007 Wyoming Conservation Stamp Competition – subject matter was the Blue Grouse. Her acrylic painting was titled, “Blue Promenade.”