Barry is an award winning artist and author from Northern Ireland. He provides illustration for editorial, design, advertising and publishing.
He was born in Dungannon, Ireland, and studied Graphic Design at Ulster University before moving to London in 2006 and began representation with Heart Agency in 2007. He now lives and works in Co. Down, Northern Ireland.
Barry works with a variety of pen, pencil, paint and digital techniques. Texture and vibrant, saturated colours are a hallmark of his work. Facial expressions, and nuances of gesture or posture allow for the creation of a complex personality within the context of a ‘simple’ drawing. Barry’s love of drawing animals and flora is apparent in much of his work.
His aptitude at finding a compelling visual to accompany an abstruse subject, has led to repeat work for The Lancet medical journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times and The Financial Times. As well as editorial, corporate and advertising work, Barry has also produced books cover for Faber & Faber, Random House and Macmillan and illustrated short stories in The New Yorker. His first picture book for young children, It’s Your World Now!, was published by Pavilion in May 2019. He has since written and illustrated two more authored children’s books, Alone! (shortlisted for The Waterstones Prize) and Dare We Be Dragons? as well as collaborating with naturalist Dara McAnulty on Wild Child and A Wild Child’s Book of Birds, the latter of which was shortlisted for The Wainwright Prize for Children’s Books. His books are published in many languages around the world.