Barbara Bristow was born in Silesia, former German territories now belonging to Poland. At the end of the 2nd World War, when her family and most of the German population were forced out of their homeland, she was just 5 years old. They settled in what was then West Germany, first in Ostfriesland, then in Düsseldorf. Moving to Singapore and bringing up a family she later worked as a translator/interpreter for the British Armed Forces in Germany and then as bilingual Secretary at the German Consulate in Belize, Central America before settling in Derby. Here she trained in General and Psychiatric Nursing as part of a 23 year career in the NHS, including working as a ward sister and Community Mental Health Nurse.

Finally, in 1998 she had the opportunity to devote herself exclusively to her passion for art, which has been with her all her life.

Barbara has exhibited extensively in Derby, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.