Encouraged by an artistic family environment, Mark Alan Burnett's early ability was inspired by wide travel and visits to art museums in Europe, the Orient and the United States. His father, a well-known portrait artist and western sculptor, encouraged Mark to pursue art as a career but he selected other paths.

After studying both Art and Environmental Design at the University of Colorado in Boulder, he designed and built homes in Estes Park, managed a bookstore/cafe in Denver, and worked in advertising. Finally, at 30 years of age, Mark returned "home" to his creative potential and became a full-time portrait artist in 1982.

Since moving to Nashville, Mark has completed portraits for clients in Nashville, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Memphis, Montgomery, Colorado, Florida, and Germany. Because of his keen observation, patience, skill and empathy, his portraits are so full of life that you are deeply touched by them.

At the 1984 National Artist's Seminar in Chicago, he was a finalist in the competition. In 1991, he won the second highest award for Distinguished Achievement in Portraiture in national competition in Atlanta. He was one of ten finalists in the international competition of the American Society of Portrait Artists at Montgomery in 1994.