Natalie Barlow was born in Geelong. After finishing school, she studied Commercial art at the Melbourne College of Decoration and in 1987 attained a TAFE certificate in Promotional Display and Advertising. Since then she has worked as a graphic artist in Melbourne, Coffs Harbour, Sydney and now the Sunshine Coast where she has lived for 9 years.

Since arriving on the Sunshine Coast Natalie has joined the Pomona Gallery Artists and Friends Group, the Friends of Noosa Regional Gallery and the Queensland Wildlife Art Society. She finds the groups to be very nurturing and supportive in her artistic development.

Her interest in art started while studying graphic design. She commenced art classes in 1986 at the local community centre and soon developed an interest in painting wildlife, particularly birds and landscapes. Over the years Natalie has gained inspiration for her artwork by visiting wetland areas, around Australia including Kakadu and overseas trips to India and Africa. Natalie enjoys painting in oils and watercolour and has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions and also has her paintings at Pomona Gallery.

In 2015 and 2016 Natalie had articles in the Artist Palette Magazine issue 143 and Artist Back to Basics Magazine showing paintings and a demo of a gum tree scene.