A native of the Kansas City area, Debra Sutherland has studied art all her life, drawing and painting since childhood. Early in her career, she studied at the Kansas City Art Institute and later attended the University of Kansas and Missouri State University, majoring in Fine Art. Though Debbie is an experienced painter in all mediums, she is primarily known as a watercolorist.

In recent years, she has studied with numerous highly acclaimed watercolorists including Rex Brandt, Milford Zornes, Irving Shapiro, Christopher Schink, Skip Lawrence, Charles Sovek, Frank Webb, Judi Betts and Alvaro Castagnet.

Debbie is a member of various watercolor societies and is a signature member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society, the Missouri Watercolor Society, and the Kansas Watercolor Society. She is also on the Missouri Watercolor Society Board of Directors. Her paintings have been exhibited in many regional, national, and international shows. These include the Missouri Watercolor Society National Exhibit: the Louisiana Watercolor Society National Exhibit in New Orleans; the Kansas Watercolor Society Eight-State Exhibit in Wichita, Kansas; the River Road Show in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibit; and the Montana Watercolor Society National Exhibit. Debra is currently serving as a board member of the Missouri Watercolor Society.

Her paintings have shown in the following exhibits: