Santos Barbosa was born in McAllen, TX, a small town on the border of Mexico. Throughout his life, he always loved to draw. While serving a 2-year stint in the US Army, he found himself creating renderings of his fellow Army buddies and their sweethearts during his spare time. In the 1970’s he sold his first pieces in shows in the Tucson area on weekends.

While he has taken a few art classes as an adult, he is largely self taught. He honed and grew his skills as a fine artist while working as a sign painter for Pima County, Arizona to support his family. Through the years, his oil and acrylic paintings of cowboy and native American scenes, historical buildings, missions, stagecoaches and trains have developed a wide following.

His work memorializes the old west in a style that is both colorful and dramatic, peaceful yet engaging.

He has received multiple awards in shows over the years, yet he retains a truly humble spirit.