Robert Burke was born in Dundee in Scotland where he attended the college of art. He moved to Ireland in 1936 when he took over the role of headmaster at the Waterford School of Art a post he held till his retirement in 1974.
He was on the organising committee of The Waterford Art Exhibitions from 1937 where he exhibited and was later to become its chairman. He also exhibited with the RA, RSA, RHA, Dublin Painters, WSI and the Paris Salon.
