Deborah Lambert spent her university years studying English literature and art history. In 1978, after a period as visual arts officer for the London Borough of Camden, she joined the newly formed Christie's Fine Arts Course as a tutor, specializing in furniture. In 1987 she became director of one of Christie's Education's diploma courses for the study of fine and decorative arts, and in 2000 was appointed international academic director. She also lectures on the subject to a wide variety of organizations in the UK and America.