Artist J. Robert Burnell is recognized and collected for his vivid depictions of life on the Chesapeake Bay. The subject is his favorite - each piece open and honest, providing a unique understanding of its' mood and people. In all fairness, however, he does equal justice to his scenes of mountainsides and farmlands, realistically capturing natural settings and primitive structures, breathing life into them with every stroke of his brush.

Through Burnell's technical accuracy, appealing scenes of everyday life are preserved without appearing trite; his portraits are expressive and dignified. Although he is a realist, abstract tendencies surface in the form of suggestion rather than fine line. It is this immediate look and controlled style which has moved him into the forefront in the field of watercolorists and earned him the respect of the contemporary world.

Burnell has exhibited throughout the Southeast and Atlantic Coast states, receiving over 150 awards for his paintings and drawings, including 8 "Best in Show". He is a three-time artist of the "Harborfest" poster celebrating the premier riverfront festival of Hampton roads. Although he works mostly in watercolor, Burnell is equally proficient in oil and acrylic mediums and is a member of the American Society of Marine Artists.

J. Robert Burnell maintains a busy studio adjacent to his home in Portsmouth Virginia.