Bailey Burton was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. Growing up, she was a competitive gymnast which occupied most of her time. Aside from gymnastics, she was always artistically inclined and loved the outdoors as a child. Drawing and fishing in the pond behind her house became her escape from the busy life of being an athlete. Once her gymnastics career ended due to an injury mid-way through high school, art helped her get through the transition of letting go of her sport. Once high school ended, she decided to pursue another passion of hers and completed her bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University. After college, she and her husband moved to Great Falls, Montana. She had full intentions of working in the field of fisheries management, but little did she know how Montana would change her life. In her new hometown, she found herself attending Western Art week in March of 2021. The inspiration flooded her and brought her back to her love of art. She saw that being an artist in the west was attainable and it was then that she decided to pursue art. She was able to combine her passion for wildlife and painting by becoming a wildlife artist. Bailey is self-taught and currently works in oil paint as her medium of choice. She participated in her first art show, the Legends West Art Show, in August of 2021 and has been a full-time artist ever since. She hopes her paintings honor the beauty and majesty of these captivating animals that share the landscape with us.