Craig is a contemporary figurative artist working with shape distortions of the body. He is strongly influenced by the human form and its place in the urban and natural environment, drawing heavily from the stimulus of his surroundings for an enduring expression of our common experience; the busy streets, buildings and bridges, the bustling market place through to the slumber of beach culture. He will also often frequent ongoing motifs such as birds and masks. His style is loose and fluid and he looks to accentuate the innate character of his subject. Craig works across a wide range of mediums including painting in both oil and acrylic, drawing, clay sculpture and graphic art.
Craig’s paintings combine a visual recording of time and place with an interest in the tension, pattern and intrigue created by often arbitrary interactions of people coming together at random through the vehicle of a structured setting. Individuals here are in transit, between destinations as on a crowded footpath or at a bus shelter. He uses distortion to accentuate the solidity and movement of form as well as to organize their physical relationships. Craig will convey the personality of each individual in his work using enhanced gesture, facial expression and exaggeration of their characteristic features.
‘I am drawn to artists such as Whiteley, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Klimt; skillful draftsmen who have sought to craft their own unique view of the human body. Concerning technique, I find that by distorting the figure I can give the image a quality that is often lost on a two dimensional surface. While I love detail I believe that this is not always in the best interests of the overall result. For me a balance needs to be met between detail and energy. A vigorous stroke, splash or spatter, when chosen appropriately, can be just as valid as any subtle variation of tone or fastidious realism. The success or failure of these strokes often rely on good planning and a level of risk but can also invigorate the work where detail would burden.’
Craig is a multi-award winning artist whose work is often described as bold and dynamic. He won the inaugural St Bernard Acquisition Art Prize, judged by John Rigby, which led to many successful themed art shows with Author and Artist John Millington. He was a member of the Brisbane 6 and has been involved for over a decade by invitation with the Brisbane Grammar Art Show, the largest annual gathering of established artists in Queensland. He has also had recent successful exhibitions at the Robyn Bauer Gallery. Robyn wrote of his work ‘he possesses an enviable mastery with technique’. Craig is currently represented by the gallery of renowned sculptor David Mackay Harris in Ballina.
Before committing to painting Craig completed an Associate Diploma of Graphic Design (creative) with straight honours and a Diploma of Graphic Design (technical). He has trained with many of Queensland’s leading artists and sites continual dedication to the discipline of life drawing as the foundation of his work. His pieces are held in private collections throughout Australia and abroad. He is available for commissioned work in all areas of his art practice including portraiture. Please contact Craig by phone or email in relation to any available work or to arrange a visit to his studio in Parkinson.
Awards and prizes
– Sept 2018
The Queensland Figurative – RQAS Petrie Terrace Gallery – Second Prize – for ‘The Long Lunch’ – Judge; Lewis Miller. Judge’s Comment: “A scene reminiscent of fin de siècle Parisian café /concert has been transposed onto a Queensland Bar scene starring a cocktail slurping heroine in a red dress and straw hat and a boorish drunk making his point one too many times.”
– June 2018
Lions Art Extravaganza – Garden City – Best in Show Winner and Oil/Acrylic Category Winner -For ‘Polly; Street Performer’. Judging Panel: Graham W SmithPenelope Gilbert-Ng and Esther Horton. Judge’s Comment: “A delightfully whimsical painting with loads of energy emanating from the wonderfully constructed work emanating an air of mystery. Well Done “– Graham W Smith
– April 2018
Royal Queensland Art Society. Brisbane: Landscapes and Personalities Exhibition. Petrie Terrace Gallery Brisbane. Winner – People’s Choice Award and 3rd Prize for ‘Bridge Pub’. Judge: Claire Sourgnes. Judges Comment: “Complicated and layered, this painting is a striking view of a Brisbane icon. Explosion of colour that screams summer.”
– Sept 2016
The Queensland Figurative, RQAS Petrie Terrace Gallery – Finalist
– July 2015
The Royal Queensland Show, RNA Showgrounds, Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills. 1st Prize for ‘Losing Colour’ – Class 1, Open Class – Any Subject Figurative. Judging Panel, John Massy, Duncan Ezzy and Frances McKennariey. Judges Comment: “Boldly and successfully Communicated a moody presence in the figure.”
– July 2015
Royal Queensland Art Society 125th Annual Exhibition. 3/162 Petrie Terrace Brisbane. Winner of 2nd Prize – Sculpture for ‘Surf Horse’. Judge – Dr Rhyl Hinwood. Judges Comment: “Exuberant modeling of an exaggerated form evokes a wild marine environment.”
– Apr. 2010
Sunnybank Lions Club 7th Annual Art Show, Lister St, Sunnybank. Winner of 1st Prize – Acrylic section for ‘Out to Dry’.
– Sept. 2008
Redlands Spring Festival 2008– Cleveland Showgrounds – winner of 1st Prize (Acrylic Section) & ‘Most Outstanding Entry Overall’ for ‘Blue Round’.
– Sept. 2008
Redland Spring Festival 2008– Cleveland Showgrounds – Highly Commended for ‘Sand Spotting’ Ceramics Section.
– May 2008
Immanuel Arts Festival – Immanuel Lutheran College, Wises Rd Maroochydore – selected as the ‘Artist in Focus’.
– Apr. 2008
Ipswich Art Awards – D’Arcey Doyle Place – winner of the Acquisition Prize for ‘Split Bench’ by the Queensland Times for an identifiable Ipswich subject.
– Apr. 2008
Sunnybank Lions Club 5th Annual Art Show, Lister St, Sunnybank. Winner of the Peoples Choice Award for ‘High Note’.
– May 2006
Immanuel Arts Festival, Immanuel Lutheran College, Wises Rd Maroochydore – ‘Remember Your Thongs’ acquired for the Emmanuel Art Collection.
– Apr. 2006
Ipswich Art Awards – D’Arcey Doyle Place – winner of the Acquisition Prize for ‘First Lights’ by the Queensland Times for an identifiable Ipswich subject. Judges Bruce Heiser and Gerard Piper.
– Apr. 2006
Sunnybank Lions Club 3rd Annual Art Show, Lister St, Sunnybank. Winner of the Peoples Choice Award in the acrylic section for ‘Banana Arbour’
– Aug. 2005
The Royal Queensland Show, RNA Showgrounds, Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills. Second prize for ‘Rainbow Lorikeets 4’ flora and fauna section’
– June 2005
St. Bernard’s Hotel Art Award, St. Bernard’s Hotel, Mount Tamborine. One of seven winners of the Purchase Prize for ‘Time Out’ – judged by John Rigby,
– Nov. 2004
Logan Open Art Competition – Kingston butter Factory – First Prize for ‘Brisbane Morning’ (acrylic section)
– Oct. 2004
Cleveland Art Expo – First Prize for ‘City Moves 3’ (contemporary section) and Highly Commended for ‘Coming In’ (contemporary section)
– Apr. 2004
Ipswich Art Awards – D’Arcey Doyle Place, Ipswich – People’s Choice Award for ‘City Moves’
– Oct. 2003
Logan Portrait Competition – The Possum Art Gallery, Beenleigh – First Prize for ‘Francyne’(acrylic section) and Second Prize for ‘ Red Jacket’ (acrylic section)
– Dec. 1997
First Provincial Building Society Limited, Ipswich – Computer design selected for their cash card