Mary Deaville - Artist & Children's Book Illustrator

From a young age, creativity was always a driving force in Mary Deaville’s life. Even as a child, she dreamed of becoming a freelance artist—so much so that she would take a pencil to bed just to draw on the curtains. However, she didn’t realise that this dream would not fully materialise until her 50s.

Throughout her journey, Mary studied at an art college in Barnet and worked in both a camera shop and the family pet shop. Her career path initially led her into accounting, which she pursued until taking a break to raise two children. During this time, her passion for working with children inspired her to train as a teaching assistant, a role she enjoyed while helping at her children’s schools.

Despite these various roles, art remained her true passion. After completing her teaching assistant qualifications, Mary decided to follow her artistic calling. In 2016, she opened a creative studio in Ross-on-Wye, where she began teaching art lessons, finally embracing the career she had always envisioned.