Ras was born in Hampstead, north west London. The son of artists Clive Barker and Rosemary Bruen, he spent his childhood between London and the idyllic surroundings of the Malvern hills in Worcestershire.

In his summer holidays, he would regularly be at an art gallery opening or sitting in a recording studio with his brother, ex studio engineer, Tad Barker - who is the co-founder and director of one of the biggest pro-audio rental companies in Europe.

Although first attending acting classes at the age of 7, Ras worked in business before (in his own words) "finally succumbing to the inevitable" and going to drama school.

It was whilst he was attending the Academy of Live and Performing Arts, that he was discovered by Sylvia Young. Since then, he has appeared in countless independent films, and many television series for the BBC and LWT.

He lives in Buckinghamshire.