Barbara was born in The Hague, The Netherlands and lived in Europe until she immigrated in 1981 to Canada. She lives and works in Vancouver.
After travelling extensively throughout Europe, South, Central and North America, Africa and Asia, as well as working in the fields of, hospitality and travel industry and in interior design and photography and as a TV host, her search for a deeper spiritual meaning led her to a career in painting. After attending courses at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, in Vancouver, B.C., in addition to private training under well-known artists such as Jeanne Krabbendam, Barbara is working part time as a mixed media artist at her studio in Vancouver. She also does some project management projects on the side and volunteers at the BC SPCA
In 2017 Barbara wrote a coffee table book that was published by Granville Island publishing. The book offers short stories about her travels and a glimpse into her art.
Her work has been selected for many juried exhibitions and she holds solo exhibitions every year. Numerous of Barbara’s paintings have found a home in Europe, North and South America and Canada.