DEBORAH YOUNGLAO is a mostly self-taught artist who uses the luxurious fibers of silk to portray her love of nature. Her background is a diverse one: in addition to her native Caribbean island of Trinidad, Deborah has lived in Barbados, Ireland, Canada and 4 states in the US, including her current home of North Carolina. Flora, fauna, colors, shapes and lines inspired by nature come to life on shimmering silk painted with vibrant liquid dyes. Visit Speightstown and head for the Gallery of Caribbean Art to view the broad range!

Although her formal education was in Science (she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of the West Indies and a Masters in Oceanography from McGill University), Deborah’s creative side led her to express her fascination with nature in an artistic rather than a scientific manner. Deborah was introduced to dye-painting (painting with dyes instead of paint) on silk in 1997, and thus started a love affair which has grown into a full-time calling. Her workspace has grown from a corner of the dining room table to a dedicated studio that holds up to eight students for workshops.

Deborah painted silk creations become either scarves, the ultimate fashion accessory, or fine art, where the softness and luminosity of the silk, coupled with her bold colors, add panache to any décor.