Versatile artist and lecturer, born in Leicester, who studied at Loughborough College of Art and Design, 1980–1; Leicester Polytechnic (travelling scholarship – award), 1981–4; and Slade School of Fine Art, 1984–6. In 1996 he was elected a fellow of RE. Teaching appointments included visiting lectureships at Leicester Polytechnic, 1986–92, and North Hertfordshire College, 1991–2, from 1991–8 lecturing at University College, Suffolk, then at Harrogate College of Art and Drama, 1997–9, and Leeds Metropolitan University, 1999. Between 1992–6, Barker was workshop co-ordinator at Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury. Group shows included The Eagle Gallery; National Print Exhibition, Mall Galleries (Robert Horne Award); 2nd Kochi International Print Biennale, Japan (Commended); 10th and 11th British International Print Biennale, Cartwright Hall, Bradford (Forbo-Nairn Prize for Best Linocut); and Barbican Centre.
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Had a solo show, Leaves to Find, Galerie Dusseldorf, Perth, Australia, 1989, later ones including a retrospective at The Fermoy Arts Centre, King’s Lynn, 1995, Come Upstairs and see my Etchings!, Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich, 1996–7, Excessive Swimming Pleasures, The Gallery, Leisure and Visitor Centre at Stratford-upon-Avon, and Chappel Galleries, Chappel, both 2001, Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury, 2003, inspired by its collection, and Jill George Gallery, 2004. That show, Thoughts Made Visible, included enamels, paintings and prints. Commissions included Elton John Aids Foundation; Russell Davies (Container Freight); British Rail Freight; and Lloyds Building. A major commission for the law firm Clifford Chance led to a series of large vitreous enamel panels for Taylor Woodrow Properties and Pool of London Partnership, St Katharine Docks. Victoria & Albert Museum, Ipswich Museums and Galleries, Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Wakefield Museum, a number of county council and corporate collections hold examples.
Text source: 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman (Art Dictionaries Ltd, part of Sansom & Company)