David Barrow is a painter whose work is a visual love letter to the music, people and places of Northern England. His works evoke a powerful sense of time and place, blending nostalgia, rhythm, and realism into a uniquely British aesthetic.
BORN IN 1959
David Barrow spent his childhood in Parbold, a hilly and picturesque parish in Lancashire, U.K., before moving to Wigan in Greater Manchester where he is still based. His paintings are born of these places in which he was raised, to the extent that a local newspaper went so far as to name him the “Degas of Northern Soul”.
AT THE AGE OF 19
Barrow began painting seriously. His early works were deeply autobiographical, capturing urban and cultural landscapes with a nostalgic, expressive style.
Immersed in the vibrant Northern Soul scene, he became a regular at the legendary Wigan Casino, an experience that would later become central to his artistic identity.
As Barrow’s practice matured and his own distinctive visual language developed, his work drew comparisons to Lowry’s mill scenes and Dickensian storytelling. He cemented a reputation for his atmospheric depictions of Northern life, blending realism with emotional resonance.
NORTHERN SOUL
Barrow has captured the essence of this late 1970s subculture in a way that has connected deeply with fellow afficionados. He can count both Paul Weller and members of Ocean Colour Scene amongst his clients, and his work can also be found in the permanent collections of The University of Music USA and the Tamla Motown Museum in Detroit USA. He has been selected numerous times for the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition, and exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy of Fine Art, Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
IN 2006
Ocean Colour Scene released their album Live at the Jam House. On the cover was a painting they had commissioned from Barrow, paying tribute to both the scene that inspired them and the artist who has become so closely associated with it.
The print created from this original painting features a reverse spot glaze and is available HERE at Hypergallery.
In a similar vein, Barrow’s artwork featured prominently in the 2010 film SoulBoy, a drama set in the Northern Soul scene. His pencil drawings and illustrations were used throughout the movie.
Barrow remains a celebrated chronicler of Northern Soul, Mod culture, and working-class heritage.
