[2] Cairns was born in the Sydney suburb of Camden and grew up in Casula and later Wollongong.
He studied at the National Art School during which time he worked as a labourer for his father, a bricklayer.
[2] In 2017, Cairns won the Archibald Prize for his painting Agatha Gothe-Snape.
"[6] The decision was defended by artist and prize judge Ben Quilty who praised Cairns and the portrait.
[7] Cairns is married to fellow artist Agatha Gothe-Snape with whom he has a son.