Born in London (England) in 1964, Dick Averns currently maintains his practice in Calgary, Canada. The artist is actively involved in exhibiting through public institutions, artist-run centres, public art projects and via performative events. An interdisciplinary approach invariably places audience as a central component to works that thematically engage with the commodification of space. As a teacher at the Alberta College of Art and Design, Averns teaches advanced studio and Liberal Studies subjects, including sculpture, performance and installation, drawing and First Year Studies.

Early works featured the clandestine installation of advertisements on tube trains and subtle amendments to billboards. Projects in the public domain have continued through series of conceptual text based installations and performative interventions, including the performative alter ego Armchair Terrorist. Sculpture and photography feature prominently in gallery installations. On the academic front, recent papers include The Vanguard War Art of William MacDonnell (Canadian Art) and Official Acts and Unofficial Actions - War Art Today (UAAC Conference).

Prior to establishing a career in art, the artist built a substantive record working in both private and public business administration, including stints for financial institution Bankers Trust and The Royal London Hospital. After travelling extensively, the artist attended drawing classes at the Parsons School of Art and Design in Manhattan before returning to London and studying at the City Literary Institute. Formal art training continued full-time at the Wimbledon School of Art and subsequently at Cheltenham. A Master of Fine Art (Studio) was received from the University of British Columbia in 2003.