Barnett Freedman was born in London to a poor Jewish family recently emigrated from Russia. Studied part-time at St.Martin's School of Art. Was encouraged by William Rothenstein to study at the Royal College of Art in 1922-25. Exhibited at the New English Artst Club. Taught at Working Men's College, Crowndale Road, Ruskin School of Art in Oxford and the Royal College of Art. Was official war artist in the World War II. Memorial exhibition held at the Arts Council in 1958. Manchester Polytechnic holds the Freedman archive and held a major show in 1990.
His work is represented in a number of public collections (see BBC Your Paintings).