Born and raised in Africa, David Barnes studied accounting and qualified as a chartered accountant. After completing his studies, he spent most of his life working in professional practice as an accountant. In all these years, he felt as though he had an artistic blood flowing through his veins and he used to collect art. In his 40s, he took an Open University degree in economics and history after which he worked for several years as a tutor for the Open University. He also ran seminars in Africa, Europe and the United Kingdom on the MBA program on financial management. He began serious painting after his retirement in 2006, though he had been an art collector for many years and enjoyed art at school. Nonetheless, he moved up the artistic ladder so fast and earned rapid success after spending many hours in the studio. Barnes wondered why he never started working in art earlier. His earlier days as a painter were very much modeled by the goal of emulating Kyffin Williams, the Welsh artist whose art he admired so much. He also admired the works of many leading artists of the past. He was particularly fascinated by the somber colors and menacing landscapes so evident in their paintings. While studying the works of Sir Williams, he became enthralled by the works of other Welsh artists. When he did some research, he found out that some of the early Impressionists started using the palette knife. Framed David Barnes art are much sought after today.