ABOUT ME
I’m Diane Barker, a Yorkshire artist, illustrator and designer based in Huddersfield. I’ve spent my working life drawing, designing, teaching and creating — from commercial illustration and design to original artwork, commissions and creative education.
MY CREATIVE JOURNEY
My love of art began with drawing and making things, and it has been part of my life ever since.
I went on to work professionally in illustration and design, creating artwork for a wide range of clients including Royal Mail, Nestlé and the Milk Marketing Board. My illustration work was also represented by Pure Illustration and has covered everything from commercial and editorial projects to packaging, print and design.
Over the years I’ve loved being able to work across different styles, subjects and creative briefs — always with drawing and ideas at the heart of what I do.
Alongside my creative work, I spent many years in education, teaching Art and Design & Technology at secondary-school level and becoming Head of Department at Royds Hall High School.
Teaching gave me the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for creativity and to help young people develop their own ideas, skills and confidence.
These days, all those different parts of my career come together. I continue to create original artwork, commissions, illustration and design work, while also running Artish Huddersfield CIC — bringing creative workshops, projects and opportunities to young people and adults in the local community.
TODAY
These days, my creative life is a mixture of my own artwork, commissions, illustration and design, alongside the work I do through Artish Huddersfield CIC.
I still love learning, experimenting and finding new things to make. Some days that means drawing or painting, some days it’s designing something for a client, and on others I’m surrounded by art materials working creatively with young people and adults.
However it takes shape, creativity has always been the thread running through everything I do — and I don’t think that’s likely to change.
