Deborah Horrell received her MFA from the University of Washington in 1979. After working as a ceramist for many years, Horrell participated in the Pilchuck Glass School's visiting artist program in 1994. A residency at the Bullseye Factory followed in 1996 permanently changing the trajectory of her career.

The artist has shown her work, both ceramic and glass, in museums and galleries throughout the country; the vessel is a primary form and figure. Compositions refer to the still life tradition as much as to surrealism. Giorgio Morandi's manipulations of form in space influence her awareness, as does DeChirico's disparate inhabitants within skewed landscapes. Human interaction informs posture and position in her tableaus. The structure of family - couples, siblings, being part and apart, determines placement and the consequent dialogue. Figures write their own stories as their character evolves. Glass plays a significant role in the life of these entities. The making of the vessels with glass in the pate de verre and cast methods promote an exploration of pointillist color, transmission of light and transformation of particulates.