Dennis began drawing and painting as a child, graduated with honors in Fine Arts/Illustration from Kendall School of Design, Grand Rapids, MI and earned a B.F.A. in Painting at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. After a teaching stint he left his Midwest roots, traveled the country and continued painting in Europe for three years. During that time he frequented the museums of Italy and France, studying the Old Masters and toured throughout India before returning to the States.

While building a career in the commercial field of illustration, design and art direction, Dennis passionately honed his skills as a painter. His representational oil paintings begin with paint to canvas without preliminary drawing, all prima style, either en plein air or in his studio. Sirrine's paintings are truly "serene," evoking a calmness of spirit - a stillness of the soul - escaping the frenzy of the city or embracing the solitude of the countryside. His New York cityscapes and New England rural/seascapes are visual meditations that beckon viewers to discover their own inner calm.

Sirrine has won several awards for his work, most recently an honorable mention in the landscape category of The Artist's Magazine's 23rd annual art competition. His painting "Old Town Bar" was chosen from over 10,000 entries and was featured in the magazine's 2006 December issue. He also won the Founders Award in 2006 Mystic Outdoor Art Festival for his Newport Harbor painting, "Sunset Cruise". Sought and owned by private collectors and corporations, his paintings frequently hang in the Salmagundi Art Club/NY where he's served on the Board as Chairman of the Art Committee.