Gordon Barker was born in Gibraltar in 1960.  His father was in the army so he moved a few times before settling back in England.

He was interested in art from an early age, and was encouraged to paint and draw by his art teacher at secondary school.  On leaving school he continued to paint, and sold his first painting in 1983 to a record company in Milton Keynes.  Over the next few years he sold several hundred originals to companies such as MTV and Gap, many of them commissions that helped him develop his unique style.

The landscapes Gordon paints are mostly created in his imagination.  He likes to ensure his pictures are 'busy' so that each time you look at them, you notice something else going on.  He prefers bright colours that grab attention.