Barbara was born in 1950 at Bush Park Outstation near Ti Tree.

She has 6 daughters, known in the Aboriginal art world as the Numina Sisters, and two sons. Barbara holds many ceremony stories for Anmatjerra language group as with her famous artist sisters and aunties. 

As an elder and senior artist, Barbara paints the old stories of her country and holds some of the secret business stories of her people and kinship groups from the North East Central Australia Desert region.

Barbara moved to Darwin to be near her children who chose to settle in Darwin after attending high school at Kormilda College. Sadly her loving husband passed away, who was a much respected stock-man and cultural lawman.