Barbara grew up in Stettler, a small town known as the heart of Alberta.  Her memories of the immense prairie sky stretching over vast fields of varying colours and textures, the sun and the landscape influenced her artwork.

Barbara graduated with distinction from the Alberta College of Art and Design.  After graduating, Barbara spent many years creating one-of-a-kind pieces at the Double Struggle Glass Studio in Calgary and worked in the architectural decorative glass field where she helped to establish new processes in design.  In 2013 she co-established Fireweed Glass Studio in Canmore, Alberta.

Barbara’s glass work is inspired by the textures of the landscape and floral studies. Each piece is enhanced through the combined use of thinly layered colours and thick clear glass, focusing on the optical capabilities of the medium.  This layering creates a textural depth which is a defining characteristic of Barbara's distinctive style.