Born in Leicester, the artist is known to have worked in Birmingham and later in Chelsea, London.  A Newlyn subject is found, dated 1884, by Bednar.  Barber died in London on the 12 June, 1892, age 56 (GRO). His exhibition dates were given as 1880-89 (Graves). Tovey reports two of his paintings to be of St Ives subjects in his Study Day Notes (2006).