Burns, William Alexander, RSA
1921 – 1972
Trained at Glasgow School of Art under Ian Fleming from 1944 -1948 followed by study at Hospitalfield House, Arbroath. He won the RSA Guthrie Award in 1953. From 1955 - 1970 he was lecturer in art and Head of Department at Aberdeen College of Education. His favourite past time was flying and this aerial perspective is often evident in his work which tends to focus on maritime landscape particularly Aberdeen harbour and often borders on abstraction. He died prematurely whilst flying his light aircraft between Dundee and Aberdeen. Burns exhibited at the RSA Annual from 1950 until 1972. He became an Associate Member in 1956 and an Academician in 1970.
