About the Artist

Biography

Award winning artist Debra Cepeda has lived in the Pacific Northwest her entire life and comes from a long line of artists. She grew up in Renton, Washington on the same property her grandparents settled on in the 1940's.

"I have always loved to draw. As long as I can remember I have always drawn or painted horses. I will paint other subjects, wildlife and landscapes but inevitably I come back to my first love of horses. Creating art can be joyful, painful and therapeutic for me. Above all I feel art should be beautiful, and give the viewer happiness".

The past several years her primary medium has been pastel and she has been garnering many awards. She retired from the Seattle Police Department in 2015 and currently lives with her husband and her black cat in Auburn, Washington. 

DEBRA CEPEDA
B. 1962, SEATTLE WASHINGTON

CONTACT

EDUCATION
Private instruction with Libby Berry, 1981-1983
Classes with Joseph Lesser 2003-2005
Artists workshops with  Dawn Emerson, Susan Ogilvie , Pam Ingalls, Michael Chesley Johnson,Liz Haywood-Sullivan, Desmond O'Hagan, Tony Allain, Alain Picard, Jacob Aguiar, Barbara Jaenicke. 

AWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS

2025-Northwest Pastel Society International Exhibition- Best of Show!

2023-Washington State Fair, 1st place Drawing

2023-Emerald Downs Equine Art Show, BEST IN SHOW, Poster Award 

2022-Northwest Pastel Society Members Show, Directors Award/3rd place

2022-Washington State Fair, 1st Place Drawing

2022-Emerald Downs Equine Art Show, BEST IN SHOW and 1st Place Drawing

 2019- Emerald Downs Equine Art Show, 1st Place Drawing 
2019-Washington State Fair, Special Catergory Award
2018- NPS  International Show, Juror's award
2017- International Association of Pastel Societies,  Web Show
2016- NPS International  Juried Show
2015-NPS  International Juried Show
2015- Emerald Downs Equine Art Show,-BEST IN SHOW, and 1st place drawing
2014-NPS International Juried Show
2014- Emerald Downs Equine Art Show-3rd Place drawing
2013- Emerald Downs Equine Art Show-2nd Place drawing
2013 - Washington State Fair juried art show-2nd Place Drawing division
2012- Ex Arte Equinus 5,1st Place Drawing, Publication in  March 2012 book
2012- Washington State Fair Directors Purchase Award-$1000.00
2011-Peninsula Art League-Framers award
2011-Arts of the Terrace- 1st Place Paintings, Prints and Drawings, 3rd place miniatures
2011-Washington State Fair juried art show, 4th place drawing, 2nd place in minatures
2011-Emerald Downs Equine Art Show- 2nd place drawing, Honorable mention oil painting.          
2010- Washington State Fair juried art show, World of Pastel, 2nd place
2010-Maple Valley Arts Juried art show, Honorable Mention
2009- Emerald Downs Equine Art Show- Poster artist for 2010 art show, Whitney Bridge Bunch,  2nd place, drawing , 3rd place, drawing  
2009-Washington State Fair juried art show- 1st place drawing
2008- Emerald Downs Equine Art Show- 1st place, drawing
2006-Washington State Fair juried art show- honorable mention
2004-Washington State Fair juried art show- 3rd place, oil
2001-Emerald Downs Equine Art Show- 2nd place, pastel
2001-EAFA-Cheap Joes Art Stuff award,
2000-Emerald Downs Equine Art Show- 1st place, pastel/drawing    
2000-Washington State Fair juried art show– 2nd place, drawing, 2nd place miniature
1999- Parklane Gallery Juried International miniature show- Best Of Show
1999- EAFA exhibition-the colored pencil society of America award.                     

EXHIBITIONS  

International Association of Pastel Societies 

Ex Arte Equinus International Equine Art Competition
Arts of the Terrace 
Peninsula Art League 
Northwest Pastel Society 
Washington State Fair juried art show
Emerald Downs Equine Art Show
Parklane Gallery International Miniature Art Show, 
Renton Annual Art Show