Bill Barrell was born in London, England in 1932. After moving to the United States he explored some formal art training at the Pennsylvania Academy, but, according to Herbert Reichert:

“The system of values that animate these paintings come not from textbooks or art-school professors but from a life well-lived. Bill is not a solitary figure and has always been involved with the creative world around him. In 1960 he owned a gallery called the “Sun” in Provincetown. He gave Claus Oldenburg his first show(part of a two man show). Nothing sold but it was the start of something new and important. He credits his association with artists like Red Grooms, Bob Thompson, Bob Beauchamp, Jay Milder and Lester Johnson as a significant part of his learning process. He says, ‘They were catalysts and pointed me in the right direction.’”

Barrell has had over 30 one man shows and is represented in 13 public collections including The Dayton Museum (Ohio) and the Walker Art Institute in Minneapolis.