About Jim Burns

2017 - 45 years on from 1972, which was when Jim Burns got his first professional commission as a science fiction artist. A collection of short stories called ‘Towards Infinity’..the artwork created through the very uncommercial media of pencil drawing and light watercolour washes. 12 quid that one paid! Preceding this and the 4 years at art college was an earlier career move..as a would-be pilot in the RAF. Which came to nought as, despite soloing on jets he was actually not a very good pilot. Sleep more soundly everyone..Jim is not in the skies above you any more. That desire to become some sort of real-life incarnation of his childhood hero, Dan Dare was not to be..although Dan Dare’s artist creator, Frank Hampson perhaps took the place of his comic hero in Jim’s perceptions and it’s definitely there - a retro look to, in particular his hardware..that is distinctly Hampsonian. Yes, Jim was better at art than hurling ironmongery around the skies of England..and in the 45 years since had managed to carve a name for himself and make a living from his efforts on board, canvas and Mac screen. Sufficiently acknowledged within this rarified domain to garner unto himself three Hugo awards and 13 BSFA awards. Currently he is working on more personal paintings amongst the occasional commission. Look out for new and darker material in the years to come!