Hazel Barker

Hazel Barker was born in London and brought up in the countryside to the south of the city. As a child, she always enjoyed painting and drawing, and was encouraged both by her family and by her teachers. Partly as a result of their encouragement, she won First Prize in a national painting competition at the age of 11, which helped her to decide on an artistic career. She then completed a Foundation Course at Guildford School of Art and, subsequently, took a degree course in Fine Art at Reigate School of Art. Hazel Barker prefers to work in oils and to paint from life, usually in Spain, Italy or France. She completes her canvases in her studio, which gives her the opportunity to emphasise the abstract patterns of the paintings concerned. She travels extensively throughout Europe, completing numerous sketches in pencil, oil and watercolour to use for future reference. She has exhibited in London and throughout the United Kingdom, and her hobbies outside the world of art include interior design, reading, and studying Spanish.