DEB HUFF

Hi, I’m Deb, an artist, illustrator and author with a big soft spot for old buildings, good stories and the everyday places that shape our lives, like the wine bars, record shops and corner stores you keep coming back to.

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I’ve lived in a few different cities, and I’ve always been drawn to the idea that we collect stories as we go, and the places we live help shape them. I’ve long been fascinated by history, especially the kind that lives quietly in heritage buildings. I love the idea that if walls could talk, they’d have plenty to say, not just about grand events, but about everyday life: the people, the routines and the quiet little dramas that make a place what it is.

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I started drawing buildings when I moved to Perth in early 2020, as a way to get to know my new neighbourhood. It turned into something bigger. People started sharing their own stories about the places I drew, and that’s when I realised this wasn’t just about architecture. It was about connection, memory and finding ways to bring the past into the present.

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These days, I create digital illustrations that celebrate the character and history of our built environment. My work has featured in large-scale public installations at Yagan Square in Perth, lightbox exhibitions in Albury, NSW, and group exhibitions in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and South Korea.

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My fascination with buildings and their backstories has also grown into Building Stories, a collection of illustrated books exploring the colourful histories of Australia’s most interesting places. With Perth and Tasmania published and Adelaide coming in 2027, the collection continues to grow, along with my list of buildings I’d love to draw.

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Whether it’s a pub, a theatre, a bookshop or a stretch of old shopfronts with a few ghosts in the walls, I’m interested in the character, charm and stories that make these places special.

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You can email me at hello@debhuff.com  or come find me on Instagram, probably gossiping about old buildings.