ABOUT

Debbie Ryan is a North West based creative who originally studied fine art at Liverpool John Moores University. In 2020 Debbie also completed her post-graduate masters in art, festivals and cultural management at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. Debbie is based in her hometown of Liverpool, Merseyside. 

Debbie creates artwork for public and private settings and the materials used aim to reflect the vibrancy of nature and multiplicty of the natural world. Often through the use of bold colour palettes and uniquely detailed mosaic forms.  Debbie uses a variety of different mediums, such as mosaic, glass, clay, smalti, ceramics or stone. When possible, sourcing materials locally and making work that is mindful of issues connected to sustainability. Debbie believes that working in this way is important for the benefit of future generations and our planet, which we all share. Therefore, often in her creative approaches or artistic processes, there is an integration of  donated items, elements of recycling, up-cycling or even repurposing within her creative practice or projects. Consequently, as a result of this endevour and way of working, many hundreds of items are saved from a destiny of going to landfill each year. 

Debbie has won awards for her mosaics, such as at an international mosaic exhibition in Exeter at the Opus Mosaic Gallery. Her award winning mosaic 'Gaia' was voted as 'Best Mosaic (People’s Choice)' by the exhibition visitors. This piece addressed the exhibition brief of responding to themes of plant biodiversity and eroded natural habitats or extinct flora species.

Debbie has worked on a range of projects, her most recent project was a sculpture called ‘Clyde’ which was created for as a temporary art installation in Hamilton, Scotland. This was part of a large-scale public art sculpture event called 'Go Stampede'. The public art sculpture ‘Clyde’ raised over £6,600 for Glasgow Children’s Hospital when sold during a charity auction event. 

Another sculpture created by Debbie was ‘Discovery’ which was commissioned for the Oor Wullie public art trail in Dundee, Scotland during 2016. The sculpture raised over £11,000 for a charity called the Archie Foundation, when it featured in a charity sculpture auction. 

Other recent projects include a public sculpture trail created and designed in collaboration with the town of Inverbervie, on the east coast of Scotland. One of the pieces that Debbie made for the trail was a feature for a community garden called 'The voyage of life', this garden was made by local volunteers from the voluntary group Brighter Bervie. The garden was featured on the BBC 2 programme Beechgrove Garden.  

Other projects that Debbie has undertook include sculptures displayed at the World Expo in Shanghai, China. A large mosaic mural project, 8 metre by 4 metre in size, and collaborative artworks made with rural communities in Muriwai, New Zealand.

In addition to China, Debbie has also exhibited internationally in Auckland, New Zealand aswell as in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee in Scotland. In various craft centres in Wales and in York, Manchester, Exeter and in her hometown of Liverpool. Here, Debbie developed her experience of co-ordinating group studio exhibitions and cultural events. As well as featuring as an exhibiting artist herself, at several of the city's international art event; the Liverpool Biennial.

Debbie has led art projects and made work for a variety of private collectors. Some of Debbie’s clients include: the NHS, National Museums Liverpool, Knowsley Council, Wigan Council, Brighter Bervie, Wild in Art, Marie Curie, Museum of Science and Industry, Liverpool Vision and Earthskin Muriwai in New Zealand.

Debbie welcomes commissions or project enquiries, and is a professional member of BAMM (British Association for Modern Mosaics).

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

MA Art, Festivals and Cultural Management, Queen Margaret University, 2016-2020

BA (Hons) Fine Art, John Moores University and Wirral Met College, 1999-2002

Foundation in Art and Design, The City of Liverpool Community College, 1998-1999

AWARDS

Scottish Research Council Postgraduate Award to study MA Art, Festivals and Cultural Management 

'Best Mosaic (People's Choice)' Award at the 'International Mosaic' exhibition, Opus Mosaic, Exeter

New Entrepreneur Scholarship Award, Liverpool Commerce and Manchester Met University

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019

Mosaiques en Nord, International Mosaic Biennial, Centre Socio Educatif, Hazebrouk, France

Festival Exhibition, Dancing Light Gallery, West Linton, Scotland

2018

Open Studios Trail, Biggar Corn Exchange, Biggar, Scotland

Maggies Penguin Parade, Dundee, Scotland

2017

Low Parks Museum, Go Stampede, Hamilton Scotland

Patriothall Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland

Sziget Festival, Budapest, Hungary

2016

Camperdown Country Park, Oor Wullie Sculpture Trail, Dundee, Scotland

2015

Parade Artists, WASPS Hanson Street Artist Studios and Gallery, Glasgow

2013

The Archivist (Collaborative Installation) Environmental Arts Festival, Dumfries, Scotland

2012

British Creativity, British Consulate, Auckland, New Zealand

2010

World Expo, Liverpool Pavilion, Shanghai, China

2009

Public Art is…  Huyton Gallery, Knowsley

2008

Autumn Show, Saltbox Gallery, York

Superlambananas, St. Georges Hall, Liverpool

Liverpool Biennial, Redwire Art Studio Gallery, Liverpool 

International Mosaic Exhibition, Opus Gallery, Exeter

Collection 08, Liverpool Airport, Liverpool

2002

Sefton Open, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport

New Graduates, Black Sheep Gallery, Hawarden

University Degree Show, Williamson Gallery, Birkenhead 

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2018

Open Studios Trail, Coulter, Biggar, Scotland

2012

Growth,  Earthskin Gallery, Earthskin Muriwai, New Zealand

2010

Mosaic Wonderland, World of Glass, Public Gallery, St. Helens 

2009

To Infinity and Beyond, Novas Gallery, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool

Tactile, Norton Priory Museum, Runcorn

2003

Lewis Store Windows Liverpool, Merseyside

Southport Arts Centre, Southport  

COMMISSIONS

Commissioned artworks in corporate and private collections across the UK and also, internationally: 

'Clyde Sculpture'

South Lanarkshire council, Hamilton, Scotland

Designer and Fabricator of sculpture for public art trail in Dundee. Raised over £6,600 for charity.

'Marmalade (Sticky Feet) Sculpture'

Mackays, Dundee, Scotland

Designer and Fabricator of sculpture for public art trail in Dundee. Raised over £7,500 for charity.

'Inverbervie Coat of Arms and Flower wall'

Brighter Bervie, Inverbervie, Scotland

Lead Artist for Brighter Bervie public art trail: Sculpture was a focal point in the dry-stone wall feature. 

'Queenie (Guardian of the Bridges) Sculpture'

Queensferry Ambition, South Queensferry, Scotland

Lead Artist and Project Manager for overall artistic vision, development of community programme and educational project with nine local schools, engaging with over seven hundred participants. 

'Voyage of Life Sculpture'

Bervie Parish Church, Inverbervie, Scotland

Lead Artist for Brighter Bervie public art trail: Three feature commissions integrating community engagement programme, this sculpture was a focal point in the community garden.

'Discovery Sculpture'

Oor Wullie Sculpture Trail, Dundee, Scotland

commissioned to create a mosaic sculpture by King Foods Ltd. Designer and Fabricator of sculpture for public art trail in Dundee. The sculpture raised over £11,000 when sold at a charity auction event.

'Bervie Crown Sculpture'

Brighter Bervie, Bervie Beach, Scotland

Lead Artist for Brighter Bervie public art trail: Three feature commissions integrating community engagement programme, public consultation and educational programme with Bervie Primary School. 

'Koru Sculpture'

Earthskin Muriwai, Muriwai, New Zealand

Site-specific sculpture commission made during artist residency at the site.

'Physiotherapy Centre Mosaics'

Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool

Main Artist for new build at the hospital, led overall artistic vision, development of two feature commissions made in collaboration with staff for the departmental reception and sub-wait areas.

'NHRC Sculpture and Wall Murals'

North Huyton Resource Centre, Liverpool

Commissioned by Collage Marketing to create artwork for the new community hub site. Undertook artist residency, large sculptural commission, research project and creative community workshops.

'Dream, Believe, Acheive Mural'

Knowsley Park School, Prescot

New build artwork commission in the form of an atrium mosaic mural (8m x 4m in size ) made in response to local history archives and in collaboration with pupils and local resident groups. 

'Peace Bench'

All Saints Catholic Primary School, Safe Productions, Bootle

Lead Artist for commission managed by Safe Productions. Led overall artistic vision, development of commission, education and community engagement activity.

'Peace Garden Murals'

HMP Altcourse, Liverpool

Two large-scale feature commissions for exterior walls of healthcare building. Working in collaboration with staff and inmates to create mosaic murals responding to themes of world peace and culture.

'Liverpool Vision Sculpture'

Queens Square, Liverpool

Commissioned by Liverpool Business Chamber and Liverpool City council, Liverpool to create a temporary mosaic sculpture commission for a temporary public art trail.

'Our Place Sculpture'

Higher Folds Estate, Leigh.

Commissioned by Wigan Council Arts Service to create community mosaic coat of arms sculpture.

'Archie Sculpture'

World Expo, Shanghai, China

Commissioned by Wild in Art to create a mosaic sculpture celebrating Liverpool architecture.

'Manchester Innovations'

Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester

Series of mosaic panels created with museum visitors at the education centre. 

'Little Blue Penguin Sculpture'

St. Pauls Square, Liverpool

Commissioned by Liverpool City Council to create a large mosaic sculpture for ‘A Winter’s Tale’, which was a temporary public art sculpture trail event held in the city. 

'Blueberry Park Sculpture'     

Blueberry Park Primary School, Huyton

Led a mosaic sculpture project with all pupils at Blueberry Park Primary School. Sculpture project commissioned by Berrybridge Housing.

'Helena Project'

Helena Project, Liverpool

Led a short term creative educational programme with a group of young people with complex behavioural needs working on individual and group mosaics.

'Muriwai Mosaics'

Earthskin Muriwai, Muriwai, New Zealand

Art and Design Tutor for art organisation during artist residency. Delivered a temporary educational programme of creative learning events with rural communities based in the area of Muriwai.

'Our City'

Liverpool Youth Inclusion, Liverpool

Commissioned to design and lead a six week creative educational programme with thirty young people attending a youth inclusion programme. 

'Halewood Active'

Halewood Ranger Centre, Liverpool

Commissioned to create an outdoor mosaic trail with young people and local walking groups.

'Active Schools'

St. Columba’s Primary School, Huyton

Commissioned to create a wall based mosaic mural with entire school to for new sports hall. Additionally, led a series of creative workshops with classes as part of an art week.   

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS 

'Koru Sculpture'

Earthskin Muriwai, Muriwai, New Zealand

'Archie Sculpture'

World Expo Museum, Shanghai, China

'Manchester Innovations'

Museum of Science and Industry

'Barnardo's Young Carers Mosaic Mural'

Museum of Liverpool Life

'Hope Always Rises - Youth Group Mosaic'

Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool

TELEVISION, RADIO AND INTERNET 

'Beechgrove Garden' (BBC2 Scotland - 21/08/2015) Programme featuring Debbie's work

Earthskin Muriwai (2012 archive) - Web article mentioning Debbie's work

Art in Liverpool (18/05/2010) - Article featuring exhibition work by Debbie

BBC Local guide (16/03/2010)  - Webpage mentioning Debbie's work 

Liverpool Airport (October 2008) Web article mentioning Debbie's work

PUBLICATIONS

Biggar Little Festival (October 2018) - Features details about exhibition artwork by Debbie

Mearns Leader (18/05/2017) Newspaper article mentioning Debbie's work

Linlithgow Gazette (05/05/2017) Newspaper article featuring a public art piece by Debbie

The Press and Journal (Aberdeenshire - 24/11/2014) Newspaper article featuring Debbie's work

World of Glass (Exhibition Programme 2010) Details of an exhibition of Debbie's work 

Your Move (17/04/2009) - Two page interview with Debbie (p.60-61)

Liverpool Echo (16/08/2008) Newspaper article featuring a public art piece by Debbie

Nerve Magazine (Issue 10 - Spring 2007) Magazine article featuring Debbie's work