Biography

James Burnett’s work is a coming together of art and science, exploring the observed realism of scientific illustration through the lens of artistic imagination. His drawings are layered, meticulous and expansive, but also hone in on the microcosmic, less frequently seen aspects of nature. In the space between precision and abstraction, replication and reinterpretation, James finds rich ground for artistic expression. The viewer is encouraged to approach, study and explore the page, with overarching imagery deepening into personal and intimate details, mirroring the complexity seen under a microscope. 

 

Delicate pen and ink work manifests into small, secretive scenes of fungal outcrops, benthic carpets of starfish and intertwining foliage, the realism of scientific illustration giving way to a playful embrace of imagination and imperfection. His digital murals by contrast, are vast and complex in their presentation. Filled with tightly woven scenes and layered narratives, they are a knotting together of James’s interests, experience and inspirations, before being physically manifested through printing or acid etching into metal. 

 

Nurtured through James’s time spent scuba diving, studying marine biofilms and hunting for insects, James’s fascination with hidden worlds captivates, becoming an open invitation for the viewer, to explore and marvel alongside him.