Canadian painter, chef and former rafting guide Don Barnes has always loved painting subjects with flowing water. His childhood years were spent living in Burlington, Ontario, where he developed a keen interest in camping, canoeing and exploring the Canadian Wilderness.

Don was first introduced to watercolour painting in 1976 by acclaimed Canadian artist David Blackwood while attending Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario.  He continued that artistic journey taking a foundational year in Fine Arts at Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology.  In the 1980’s he lived in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park working as a chef and raft guide. This experience gave him the opportunity to explore the Canadian Rockies.

He met his wife Lyn while rafting the Kicking Horse River in Golden, BC.  Together they took part in a 12 day rafting trip on the Tatshenshini River in Alaska before moving to the west coast where he now lives with Lyn and their cat Mickey in Richmond, BC.  They love to travel and explore the world.  In 2013, they completed a backpacking trip to South America, Africa, and Asia.  Most recently, they returned to Africa and traveled overland for five months.

His painting style has been influenced by the work of Walter J. Philips, Carl Rungius, Robert Genn and Nicholas Bott as well as the Group of Seven. Working primarily in acrylic and watercolour, he paints the Canadian landscape focusing mainly on wilderness in Western Canada.  Don paints in a modern representational style that highlights simplicity, colour and individual brush strokes.  He also paints his travel experiences in the greater world with pen and watercolour on paper.