Bob Barker

Since being gifted a set of oil paints as a 12-year-old boy, the artist has been captivated by what can be captured with a paintbrush. Where others see soot-blackened brick and polluted skies, Bob sees light and colour. Wielding a palette of blacks, greys and browns, he recreates his working-class roots through gritty depictions of work, love and play.

Drawing inspiration from the Old Masters, his work is a series of tableaus which immortalise the light and shadows that have captivated him for a lifetime. ​Often his signature motif of two hearts can be spotted, symbolising a feeling of togetherness. 

Bob says: “When I paint, it’s almost as if this northern light pours from my brush onto the canvas. It transforms everything it touches, from the cobbled streets to the terraced houses, mills and back alleyways.”