Frances Violet Jane Barker [commonly known as Frances Barker] was born in Lewisham, London, England on 19 March 1905 and studied at the Architectural Association Schools in London where she received the A.A. Diploma. She was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1929. In 1931 she was awarded the Owen Jones Studentship and from July-September 1931 toured Gothenburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Lubeck, Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam*. She was also awarded the RIBA Diploma in Town Planning. She subsequently practised as an architect in Worthing, Sussex and later in Devon.
A photograph of a house in Sunnyfield, Mill Hill, London designed by her is illustrated in The Book of the Modern House, edited by Patrick Abercrombie (1939 p. 143).
Her address was given as 2 Heene Corner, Worthing, Sussex in 1930; "Belle Vue", Chagford, Newton Abbot, Devon in 1935; and "Upton Cottage", Chagford, Newton Abbot, Devon in 1939 and 1950. Her death was registered in Okehamton, Devon in November 1990.
* A 39-page report by her of her tour has been deposited in the RIBA Library
'Two-bedroomed "utility house" intended for older people'. Architect & Building News 30 April 1943 p. 80 [Architect: Frances Barker]