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Lot Essay
An article in The Studio in 1923 stated: 'In the North the best men are, almost without exception, engrossed in landscape. They form a very distinct group whose work is characterised by typical racial traits. Their landscapes, though by no means emotional, are almost always most obviously sincere, closely observed, firmly and cleanly handled'. The writer, who mentioned Paul Henry and Frank McKelvey among others in this growing school, went on to describe Craig as 'the most typical Northern of them all, [who] has curiously enough, a large circle of admirers in Dublin'. He was made a member of both the Royal Ulster Academy in Belfast and Dublin's Royal Hibernian Academy.
Born in Belfast, Craig was practically a self-taught artist, having failed to complete a term at the College of Art. After a short time spent in the States he returned to live in Belfast. His enthusiasm for painting Irish landscape, and for fishing, resulted in frequent expeditions to Antrim where he had a studio in Cushenden, to Donegal and and to Connemara where he painted the present work. Located at the head of Killary harbour, the idyllic village of Leenane allowed Craig to indulge his twin passions, painting and fishing. (see T. Snoddy, Dictionary of Irish Artists Twentieth Century, Dublin, 1996, p. 86).
Born in Belfast, Craig was practically a self-taught artist, having failed to complete a term at the College of Art. After a short time spent in the States he returned to live in Belfast. His enthusiasm for painting Irish landscape, and for fishing, resulted in frequent expeditions to Antrim where he had a studio in Cushenden, to Donegal and and to Connemara where he painted the present work. Located at the head of Killary harbour, the idyllic village of Leenane allowed Craig to indulge his twin passions, painting and fishing. (see T. Snoddy, Dictionary of Irish Artists Twentieth Century, Dublin, 1996, p. 86).