Theresa Macknight was born in Saint John New Brunswick and studied Fine Arts at Mount Allison University and Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. She currently resides in Saint Andrews, NB where she works as an artist and educator.

Macknight considers herself a contemporary realist. Painting, for her, is an investigation of colour, light, composition and narrative. She has a diverse practice based on combining painting principles and experimentation.

She is a believer in the benefits of working directly from life, often working plein air or in the studio through observation of the figure and still life.