Hazel "Zeeva" Burnett was born in Georgetown, British Guiana. Her recognition as an up-and-coming artist was evident when, at 18, she was asked to illustrate stories for the Government's "Broadcast to Schools" magazine. She was later commissioned to design the preface of the booklet commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Georgetown Public Library.
Zeeva left British Guiana to pursue art studies -- from still life and portrait drawing to story and fashion illustration -- at the Art Students League of New York in the United States. She also studied, among other things, set design for television at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London, England.
During her 26-year tenure in the field of communications with the United Nations (UN), Zeeva used her spare time to illustrate "Fashions in the UN" in the organization's monthly newsletter, design UN press folders and desk calendars highlighting the organization's activities and celebrations, and illustrate UN booklets for dissemination in the countries to which she was assigned as United Nations Information Centre Director.Since her retirement from the United Nations, Zeeva has been devoting most of her time to her life's passion -- art. She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida.
