Anthony Barham Brings European Charm to Hunt Country
Written by Shayda Windle
Born and raised in London, England, Anthony Barham grew up in his family’s antique business on Notting Hill’s famous Portobello Road. His father, Alfred, started the business over 70 years ago with just a wheelbarrow and 3 pounds. As a child, Barham traveled alongside his father, observing him as he purchased antiques and restored old paintings and frames to sell in the shop.
Alfred moved the shop a few times before finally settling at 83 Portobello Road, where the business still thrives today. Perhaps most importantly, it was here in the shop that Barham says he “learned how to paint by observing and restoring paintings we sold in the business.”
It wasn’t until 1995 that Barham took a leap of faith and decided to leave England for the United States in pursuit of a career as a professional artist. Since then, he has risen in the ranks as one of the top fine artists in the D.C. metro area, and has consistently exhibited and taken commissions.
After settling in Middleburg, Barham met and married fellow artist Misia Broadhead, also a professional fine art oil painter. Together they formed the Broadhead-Barham studio in Middleburg, where he says they “sell from [their] studio through Facebook and Ebay and have a permanent display cabinet at The Antique Emporium in Middleburg.”
Top: Barham’s Studio. Bottom: “Hounds Pair,” 12X10” each, oil on panel.
The Antique Emporium is located in the heart of Middleburg and represents 45 dealers with an ever-changing selection of local, stateside, and European antiques. And their paintings are sold many other places too.
“For many years we have sold our paintings at The Inn at Little Washington, as well as done commissioned work for the Inn,” Barham says.
Barham has become a widely popular artist in Middleburg for a number of reasons. He likes to focus on “classic realism in order to fully portray the beauty of nature and its animals,” he says. “Since I have lived here, I have painted everybody’s dogs, cats, horses, pigs, cows, and numerous foxes due to their great popularity.” His style is unique in that he sometimes adds a whimsical touch or some European flair to his animal paintings.
Top left: “Hunt Mural,” 15’ X 10’, oil on canvas. Top right: Horses visiting. Commission. Bottom: “After The Hunt,” 16”X10,” oil on panel.
On top of this, Barham is an active member of the arts community in Middleburg and has participated in auctions at The Hill School and the Art of the Piedmont. He’s taught classes through the Artists in Middleburg, and “worked on very large murals for numerous clients.” He says he “continually has projects to work on.” “Hunt Mural,” shown here, is one such commissioned piece Barham created for the entrance of a local farm. When the owner sold the farm, Barham tells us, “he had the canvas taken off the wall so that he could stretch and frame it for his new home.”
Top left: “Kits,” 12X12,” oil on panel. Top right: “Hounds Pair,” 12X10” each, oil on panel. Bottom: “Smoking Fox,” 12”X10,” oil on panel.
Barham regularly posts tutorials on YouTube where art enthusiasts and fans can follow along and watch the calming nature of his brushstrokes as they glide across the canvas. Find his YouTube channel by searching “Anthony Barham.”
All the pieces pictured here are sold, but Barham is open for commissions and can be contacted through his website broadheadbarham.com. ML
Watch time lapse videos of the paintings “The Hunter”, “Fox and Hound”, and “Horses Visiting” on YouTube.
Published in the November 2020 issue of Middleburg Life.