Children’s book illustrator and scientific illustrator born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1951. She studied at the Tasmanian School of Art, graduating with a Diploma of Graphic Design in 1971. Her first group exhibition, 'Hobart Photographed’, was held at the AMP Building that year, followed by another group photographic exhibition, 'Fixations’, at the Salamanca Gallery in Hobart the next year. In 1973 she exhibited at the FIAP Photo Forum 'Jugend’ Eislinger, Germany.
Burrell worked for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from 1972-79 as a Designer/Illustrator. It was there she began to develop her distinctive scraperboard drawings of Tasmanian wildlife. In 1976 Burrell illustrated Tasmania’s Native Mammals booklet and poster series, written by Philip Andrews for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
In 1976 Burrell produced a film, Home of the Needwonee, documenting an archaeological expedition to south-west Tasmania which investigated the lifestyle of the Tasmanian Aborigines.
During the 1980s Burrell illustrated a number of children’s books featuring Australian native animals, including: A House for Wombats (1983), written by Michael Dugan; Wombats Don’t Have Christmas (1985) also by Michael Dugan; Whose Pouch? (1988); and Little Penguin (1989). She also worked as a scientific illustrator during this period, illustrating A Guide to the Birds of Tasmania (1981), by Michael Sharland and contributing a number of drawings to Atlas of Australian Birds (1982), Royal Ornithologists Association. During 1984-85 Burrell was employed by Drysdale College of Hospitality as a graphic designer and teacher.
Burrell also exhibited her work at the Annual Exhibitions of the Wildlife Artists’ Society of Australasia (Victoria) and the Crafts Council of Tasmania Peace and Goodwill exhibition during this period.
During the 1990s, Burrell collaborated with writer Michael Dugan to illustrate a number of his books, The Wombats’ Party (1990), Monster Dreams (1992) and Wombats Can’t Fly (1996). Wombats Don’t Have Christmas and Wombats Can’t Fly were republished in 2003. Jill Morris’s Golden Wombats was published in 1990 (republished in 2003).
Burrell also continued to work in scientific illustration. Insect Pests of Australian Forests by H.J. Elliott, C.P. Ohmart, F.R. Wylie, was published in 1999.
In 1999 Burrell received a grant from the Australian Film Commission, Women’s Program New Imaging Technologies Support Scheme.
Burrell’s work featured in a number of exhibitions during the early 2000s: 'Animal Tales, Animal Images in Australian Children’s Books’ – National Travelling Exhibition presented by Dubbo Regional Gallery in conjunction with Dromkeen Children’s Literature Collection, Victoria (2001); 'Tasmanian Living Artists Week – RED’ (2004); 'Artists @ Work’ (2004); 'Loft Gallery 6th Anniversary’ (2004); 'Zoo’ (2004); 'Wine & Whimsy’ (2004); 'Works on Paper’ (2005); 'Summer Exhibition’ (2005).
In early 2009 Burrell took up the position of Artist-in-Residence, Fahan School in Hobart and continued to produce illustrated stationery and kitchenware and participated in the Salamanca Market until 2020. After the Covid-19 pandemic she continues her arts practice in drawing and painting.
- Writers:
- Hansen, Anita
anitahansen
- Date written:
- 2009
- Last updated:
- 2020
