He was a marine artist and editor, born in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia. He studied art in Sydney and St Ives, Cornwall.
As well as being art editor of Brassey’s Naval and Shipping Annual, Burgess was Australia’s official naval artist in 1918.
He Settled in London, where he was a member of Langham Sketch Club.
He exhibited at Royal Institute of watrecolour painters and Royal Society of Painters in Oil both of which he was member, Royal Academy, Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Society of British Artists and elsewhere.
National Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney and several British public collections, including Lincoln and Nuneaton, hold examples.