About the Artist

Barbara Willingham was born March 7, 1949, in Harlan County, Kentucky, and grew up in the rural southeastern region of the state. Her father, Ray Willingham, was a coal miner, and her mother, Thelma, worked in restaurants to help support the family of eight children. Outside was a colorful and exciting world for Barbara, the visually perceptive child. Barbara's early drawings reflected her attention to nature while living in Laurel County at Lily, Kentucky.

In the watercolor and oil paintings that Barbara continues to create, her mountain heritage is always prevalent. The subject matter of her artwork encompasses the rustic—the often under appreciated objects that narrate activities of common folk. Objects such as an old dipper propped against a wash pan, and a bent, rusty nail in a weathered fence post have not escaped Barbara's meticulously observant eyes.

The artist has also painted several architectural treasures of the region. Although one of her subjects, the old railroad trellis bridge in Corbin, Kentucky, has been renovated, the old restaurant in her painting titled, Time Expired, has been torn down.

Barbara admits, “Sometimes my art turns out to be a kind of record of times past, when my intention was just to paint subjects that were personally challenging and inspiring.” Whatever the subjects of her artwork, Barbara is always conscious of her upbringing among the hills and hollers of Appalachia.

Barbara's newest work, Harlan Mountains with Misty Veil, is painted in oil and measures 2.6 feet by 4 feet. In this work, there is a sense that the viewer is actually standing atop a mountain, peering through foreground tree branches and a veil of mist that gently covers the mountaintops in the distance.

After graduating from Cumberland College with a Master of Art-Education degree in the early 1990s, Barbara realized the value of her genre of art. Since 1990, Barbara has been employed as an art teacher with Corbin Independent Schools, while managing her business at Mountain Laurel Gallery, LLC, London, KY.

Mountain Laurel Gallery is located just two miles off of I-75 Exit 38 (Hwy 192-West). In addition to art prints, the gallery features note cards and other regional collectibles. Barbara's work is also featured at the Kentucky Artisan Center (Berea, KY), Alan Galleries (Corbin, KY), Brenda's Treasures (Corbin, KY), and Brookhaven Christian Bookstore (London, KY).

See contact page for more information.