Ron McBurnie is a practising artist based in Townsville, drawing his inspiration from early traditions of British and European printmaking and painting. After studying painting and printmaking at Queensland college of Art (1975-1978) and gaining a Graduate Diploma in Teaching from Kelvin Grove Teachers College Brisbane, Ron moved to Townsville where he lectured at Queensland College of TAFE (1980-85) and James Cook University from 1986- 2010. He completed a Master of Fine Creative Art in 2000.

Ron has travelled extensively and has been Artist-in-residence at Alayrac France (2009) (2011) (2013) Carleton College Minnesota (2006), Frans Masereel, Centrum Belgium (2004),(2011), ANU Canberra (2001-02-04-07-10-14) as well as the National Art School Sydney (2010-2011), University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba and Somerville House Brisbane.

Ron has an extensive exhibiting history with more than 30 solo and touring exhibitions and over 100 group exhibitions. He has received numerous awards and grants including the Fremantle print prize1988 and of the Australia Council overseas studio grant at the Cite' International des Artes Paris 1991.

His work is featured in many Australian regional gallery collections, most major Australian State galleries and the National Gallery of Australia

Artist's Statement

I live in Townsville, a city in the northern tropical part of the east coast of Australia. The weather here in summer can be fairly humid but from May to October it is wonderful. As well as being an artist, I lecture at James Cook University in the School of Creative Art in Townsville.

I was a born a baby boomer, a little too late to be a hippy but early enough to have observed and appreciated the music and visual art produced during that period. Music is an important part of my life. I collect records, for the enjoyment I get from the music and innovative cover designs. I play records in the studio when I paint or make etchings. Their sounds do not directly influence my work but put me in a particular state of mind where I can mentally move in and through the image I am constructing.

I draw information used in my work from a variety of different sources both contemporary and historical. The ideas may come from obscure and seemingly unconnected bits of information but become connected through the visual relationships I bring to them. These new narrative combinations are what form the basis of the work that I produce.

I usually make work in series. Each one is built up and added to over several years. As I grow older and I see the world differently, the new images I make evolve and adapt to suit my own personal changes.