Debbie Baird

Debbie Baird is a figurative, mixed media artist, primarily working in oils over paper collage. She began her painting career in 2018 with a focus on life drawing and portraiture. Since then, as her practice has evolved, Debbie has explored and developed her central theme of Individual Identity.

“Identities define who we are and signal to others the kind of person they are dealing with,” she says. “Our sense of identity begins to form in childhood as we develop self-awareness and continues to evolve throughout life, shaped by our memories, experiences, relationships, and values. As we learn more about ourselves and our place in the world, this self-understanding becomes essential to coping with life’s challenges and maintaining well-being.”

Debbie’s recent paintings focus on the formative experiences that shape our early sense of self – home life, early experiences, parental influence, and social moments. The things that empower us and determine who we will become. Her collages are built from familiar images of home and upbringing, and she overlays painted figures allowing the collage to form part of the image, adding an extra dimension to the portrait.

Debbie’s work has been exhibited (October 2025) in the RBSA exhibition Ego: Identity and Power, in the RBSA Summer Show 2025, RBSA Friends Exhibitions 2024, 2025, and 2026, as well as in group shows in London, St Ives, and Cheltenham. She was also a finalist in the 2022 Broadway Arts Festival competition.