burns worked as a draftsman until 1962, before starting own architectural firm where he worked as a director until 1977. while making a living through his practice in architecture, he was just as well known for his frequent involvements in cas exhibitions, being a talented graphic designer and artist. he held numerous one-man exhibitions throughout 1957 till 1971, with several exhibitions held in the museum of modern art of australia, melbourne (moma) in 1958 and 1959. he also had exhibitions in the dominion galleries, sydney in 1963 and the llewellyn galleries, adelaide in 1969.