Artist, Craigo has a flair for capturing local Edinburgh hot spots in his paintings

Introduce us to you and your brand

I am an Edinburgh based artist and mainly paint in oils. I love to paint fairly local subject matters, especially street scenes in a fairly impressionistic style. I love the interesting light and atmospheres that Edinburgh has in abundance and try to capture a snapshot or a moment in time when I paint.

How has your brand developed since you began? I always strive to find new ways to look at familiar subject matter - Edinburgh is a constantly evolving source of inspiration that continues to inspire me.

How did you find out about SDX? And what made you apply to sell with us? I like the ethos of SDX and how it brings artists and crafts people together and gives them an outlet for their work and a sense of support and encouragement which is really refreshing. I have been aware of SDX since I moved to Edinburgh so it was my first port of call for me to sell my work. I must say I am very impressed with the new George St location!

"Edinburgh is a constantly evolving source of inspiration that continues to inspire me."

What would you consider to be the most challenging aspect about being a working artist? It can be quite lonely being an artist at times, as well as being quite difficult to keep earning enough to make a living from your work - being a part of SDX is a great help with both of these challenges!

What do you consider to be your most popular product?

My limited edition prints - they also mean that lots of people can buy original art at an affordable price.

What piece are you the proudest of?

I’m pretty happy with my most recent Stockbridge paintings - I think they have a freshness and a sense of springtime and Summer, hopefully they convey a sense of renewed optimism.

Do you have any past accomplishments you wish to share?

Becoming a full time artist and getting to do something I love is up there I think!

"I like the ethos of SDX and how it brings artists and crafts people together and gives them an outlet for their work and a sense of support and encouragement which is really refreshing."

What have you found to be the most challenging aspect to your business since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020? Literally keeping going, I caught Covid 19 earlier this year but thankfully recovered, but it made things pretty tough for a few months

How have you spent your time during lockdowns?

Taking stock of what really matters in life

Have you discovered any new hobbies or passions in the last year?

I have made more time for simple things like reading, baking bread, going walking and enjoying my environment - not taking things for granted so much is a positive I think

How do you think shopping and retail may change after the pandemic ends?

Hopefully people will continue to support local shops and businesses a bit more

How did SDX being closed affect your business?

It was tough for everyone involved I think, but it also gave a bit of a breathing space to focus on new ideas

What do you hope to gain from working with SDX going forward?

I hope being part of SDX will widen my potential audience and get my artwork out there

If you could share just one piece of advice to aspiring artists/designers who want to make a living from their creative talents, what would you tell them?

Don’t worry too much about what everyone else is doing, just do your own thing.

And finally, tell us your favourite inspirational quote!

"There is hope in honest error, none in the icy perfections of the mere stylist"

- Charles Rennie Macintosh

Thank you to Craig for participating in our blog questionnaire.

You can find his work at our Edinburgh George Street shop