Portal provides window of opportunity to artist Craig
Ayrshire painter and golf lover promises surprises at upcoming exhibition in Irvine leisure facility
Craig Campbell will be the first artist to exhibit his work at Ayrshire’s newest leisure centre.
Craig will be proudly displaying some of his golf- inspired work to coincide with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and the Ladies Open being held at Dundonald Links in July.
“I was asked by North Ayrshire Council to host an exhibition at the new Portal Leisure Centre and Townhouse in Irvine and this will coincide with the Open Golf tournaments taking place at Dundonald Links,” said Craig. “The exhibition will feature five or six original golf paintings for public display. We start work on hanging the pieces next week.”
Craig, who is one of the leading figurative and portrait artists in the country, has work on display in establishments throughout Ayrshire. His passion for Robert Burns came to life in his series of paintings depicting Tam O’Shanter, which take pride of place in the Brig O’Doon hotel in Ayr.
Craig’s work is also featured in Trump Turnberry – with paintings of golfing legends in the new clubhouse and his landscape of Turnberry in several bedrooms of the resort.
“I have had paintings featured at Turnberry for many years now and am regularly at the resort,” explained Craig.
“I decided to paint a portrait of Donald Trump as President before he was elected so that if he indeed was elected I would have it available to show.
“After the election it was shown to Eric and he liked it.
“Along with the management at Turnberry it was decided to gift the painting to Eric and things were put into motion to present the painting to him on his visit to the resort where I had been inspired and created it so it was good to be able to give it to his son Eric to take over to the United States.”
And his painting of Big Three golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer has become famous around the globe.
The original and its limited edition luxury prints are on sale through Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, and also through Trump Turnberry pro- shop.
The artist’s passion for golf is clear in his work as he was also commissioned to paint a portrait for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
It is on permanent display in Gleneagles Hotel’s foyer alongside a commemorative plaque. Craig is currently working on a new exhibition to be hosted in Glasgow of Music Icons.
He said: “This will be a pop art style series of paintings and will feature musical legends. I’ve used a pop- art style similar to Andy Warhol and it is a new direction for me. The exhibition will be an all- round experience for the audience – not just a visual one.”