The Caribbean island of Barbados in the Lesser Antilles is the most eastern of all Caribbean islands. According to archeological findings the first settlers or visitors to Barbados may have landed on the island in 1600 BC. A more permanent Amerindian settlement was established around the 4th to 7th centuries AD. Barbados was populated by the Kalinago people since the 13th century.

Spanish navigators claimed the island for the Spanish Crown in the 15th century and it first appeared on maps in 1511. After the Spanish the Portuguese took it over in the 1530s until they gave way for the English when they arrived in Barbados in 1625 and later made it into a British colony. Even after the islands declaration of independence in 1966 it was actually part of the British Commonwealth until December 1st 2021 when Barbados transitioned to a republic and thus removed Queen Elizabeth as head of state.

Barbados is also the birthplace of rum. Mount Gay is the oldest operating rum distillery in the world and was founded in 1703. Thanks to its almost perfect conditions for growing sugar cane and the fact that its limestone bedrock is a fantastic filter for rainwater Barbados was almost destined to become a great rum producer. 

Rum aside, Barbados is famous for its green monkeys, flying fish, fish fries and, of course, Rihanna who in November 2021 was named national hero and received the title, the Right Excellent Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

Barbados is the only Caribbean island (and one of only four countries) to have had regular Concorde service. The route from London to Barbados was kept from 1987 until 2003. The flight took only three hours and 45 minutes instead of almost 9 hours.

Product information

This is one in a series of illustrations of beautiful islands from all over the world.

The size 40 x 50 cm (approx 16” x 20”) are signed and printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Bright White 310g archival paper and are sold in a limited edition of 50 prints.

The size 30 x 40 cm (approx 12” x 16”) are printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art Studio Enhanced 210g archival paper.