Craig studied art at the Ballarat College of Advanced Education, now Ballarat University, where painting and graphic design attracted most of his attention. Craig pursued a successful career as an illustrator in the advertising industry and became a member of the Illustrators Association of Australia.
Craig’s career has progressed into a range of mediums including skills in computer graphics. As a result, Craig has also undertaken a successful career in teaching both traditional drawing and illustration and digital drawing and illustration at both Victoria University and Swinburne University. Throughout this time, he never lost his love of using traditional methods and subsequently specialized in watercolour and acrylic painting and illustrations. This has led to an extremely successful solo career. In 2001, Craig had his first major solo exhibition at Manyung Gallery in Mt Eliza, Victoria. In 2007, his work was accepted by Gallery Diamante in Carmel California.
"I like to think that to paint a successful painting is not so much to have tamed the beast, rather to have been taken along for the ride and still be there at the end of the experience. For me painting is like life … giving yourself enough skill, knowledge and integrity and then letting yourself free to take what is thrown your way. You don't need to tame and control it for magic to happen... you just need to be there at the end."
Experience:
1985 - present: Freelance Illustrator and Artist. Clients include: Clemenger Harvie, DDB Needham, Melbourne Marketing Solutions, RGS Communications, Aristocrat Technologies, Collier & Associates, AV Jennings, Delfin Property Group limited, Handi Home supplies, Wam Advertising, Tasman Chemicals.
1996 - present: Sessional Teacher of Illustration and Drawing Victoria University of Technology and Swinburne University of Technology
1982 – 1985: Studio Artist/Design & Finished Artist: Robinson & Co. Advertising; Acme Art Studio
Education:
2002: Studies in Context and Culture (Victoria University)
1993-95: Studies in Computer Graphics
1980-81: Received Martha Pinkerton Scholarship for Academic Achievement
1979-81: Ballarat University (Ballarat Colledge of Advanced Education) Diploma of Art
1978: Hamilton Technical School
Awards:
Best Water Colour – Rotary Club of Hamilton 1999 (Buvelot Award)
Best Water Colour – Rotary of Altona 1999
Highly Commended – Mt Waverly Art Show 2000
Highly Commended – Rotary Club of Leongatha 2000
Rotary Club of Altona – The Qenos Selection 2000
Highly Commended Rotary Club of Warragul 2000
Best Painting – Rotary Club of Portland 2002
Best Water Colour - Rotary Club of Dromana 2002
Best Water Colour – Mount View Art Show 2003
Best Water Colour – Rotary Club of Portland 2003
Best Water Colour – Wimmera Art Show 2004
Best Street Scene – Brighton Art Show 2005
Best Street Scene – Bayside Art Show 2006
Best Oil – Chelsea Art Show 2008
Best Painting – Bayside Art Show 2008
Best Painting all Mediums – Mt Waverly Art Show 2009
Best Oil – Rotary club of Hamilton Nth 2009
Best Oil/Acrylic – Chelsea Art Show 2010
Best Acrylic Painting – Bayside Art Show 2011
Exhibitions
The Mill Gallery, Malmsbury – Joint Exhibition 1999
Gallery, Ranfurlie, Korowa Anglican Girls School – Joint Exhibition 1999
Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza – Joint Exhibition 2000
Manyung Gallery, Solo Exibition 2001
Gallery Ranfurlie, Korowa Anglican Girls School – Solo Exhibition 2001
Brighton Horizon Art Gallery, Brighton – Joint Exhibition 2001
Potoroo Gallery, South Bank – Solo Exhibition 2001
Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza – Joint Exhibition 2001
Chardonnay Lodge, Coonawarra – Solo Exhibition 2002
Potoroo Gallery South Bank – Solo Exhibtion 2002
Cape Nelson Lightstation, Portland - Solo Exhibition 2002
Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza – Joint Exhibition 2003
The Loft- Art Space at Rochfords Eyton – Solo Exhibition 2003
Mildura Regional Art Gallery – Solo Exhibition 2003
Chardonnay Lodge, Coonawarra – Solo Exhibition 2004
Mildura Regional Art Gallery – Joint Exhibition 2004
Manyung Gallery – Joint Exhibition 2004
Gallery Ranfurlie, Korowa Anglican girls school – Solo Exhibition 2004
Potoroo Gallery South Bank – Solo Exhibition 2005
Manyung Gallery – Joint Exhibition 2005
Without Pier Gallery – Solo Exhibition 2006
Manyung Gallery – Joint Exhibition 2006
Without Pier Gallery – Solo Exhibition 2007
Manyung Gallery – Joint Exhibition 2007
Art Images Gallery Adelaide - 2008
Without Pier Gallery – Solo Exhibition 2008
Manyung Gallery – Joint Exhibition 2008
Without Pier Gallery – Solo Exhibition 2009
Manyung Gallery - Joint Exhibition 2009
Art Images Gallery Adelaide – 2010
Manyung Gallery – Feature Artist 2010
Red Sea Gallery, Brisbane – Joint Exhibition 2011
Red Sea Gallery, Singapore – Exhibition American Club 2012
Manyung Gallery – Solo Exhibition 2012
South Yarra Art House – Feature Artist 2013
Without Pier Gallery – Joint Exhibition 2013
Manyung Gallery – Joint Exhibition 2014
Without Pier Gallery – Feature Artist 2016
‘Blues of Summer’, Manyung Gallery Mt Eliza 2017
Without Pier Gallery 2017
Redsea Gallery, Brisbane 2017
‘Summer Impressions’, Manyung Gallery Sorrento 2017
Beyond the Creek’, Without Pier Gallery 2018
Art Images Gallery, Norwood SA 2018
‘Sun, Sand and Seagulls’, Manyung Gallery Sorrento 2018
‘The Travelling Artist’, Art at Linden Gate, Healesville 2019
‘From the Peninsula to Paris’, Without Pier Gallery 2019
Manyung Gallery Mt Eliza 2020
‘Fun Times Along the Coast’, Manyung Gallery 2020
‘A Bayside Summer’, Manyung Gallery Sorrento 2021
'Peninsula Shores', Manyung Gallery, Sorrento 2022
Audrey Fine Art Gallery, Pyrmont NSW 2022
‘Pyrmont and Beyond’ Audrey Fine Art Gallery 2023
Collections:
Brighton Grammar School
AFL Travel
Australian Private Capital
Melbourne & Olympic Parks
David Bryant and Associates
Korowa Anglican Girls School
Delfin Property Group
Private Collections throughout Australia, the UK, USA and Singapore