A botanical artist since 1993, Deborah Kopka teaches Botanical Illustration in Watercolor and Mixed Media in university and community college adult education programs, and in botanical gardens.

She was the botanical illustration instructor at the Toledo Museum of Art School of Art and Design for several years and has taught at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum at the University of Michigan, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Pittsburgh) Botanical Illustration Certificate Program, and Bowling Green State University Continuing Education.

Deborah studied botanical illustration in England and editorial illustration at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. She also earned a Botanical Art Diploma, with Distinction, from London Art College in the United Kingdom.

A 40-year publishing professional and a former Editorial Director of three textbook product lines with The McGraw-Hill Companies, she continues to work with domestic and international publishers and has also authored or co-authored twelve non-fiction children’s books.

Deborah is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.. and the Ohio Arts Council. Her botanical art is licensed internationally. You can view her website at dkdesigns.org.