Monica and her husband Des Barnes moved from London to Cornwall in the 1950s. In her obituary it is noted that the couple settled in Marazion, where Des was a cabinet maker, and Monica a teacher and artist. They had one daughter, Joanna. Special mention is made in her obituaries of her interest in gardens and natural history, and her known paintings are landscape in subject.

A recent correspondent from the Netherlands (2011) has written of a gouache painting purchased in Cornwall in 1977 at a charity auction, which they have taken home with them as a much-enjoyed and lovely memory of Cornwall - early evening around Venton Farm in West Cornwall.

A painting by this artist, Ludgvan from Marazion (oil on board, signed), was donated to the Charity Auction to establish the WCAA in 2004.