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Gallery

Craig Bertram Smith

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South African artist with fish and fishing on the palet

By Korrie Broos

The first time I saw one of Craig Bertram Smith's works of art was a pencil sketch he'd made to commemorate a trophy giant kingfish he'd caught, posted on a fly fishing forum.
The sketch was magnificent, and I immediately emailed Craig, to find out more about him and his artistic work.

With commissions from all over the world, it seems that he is better known abroad, than in South Africa.

As a youngster, growing up with a dad who instilled a love of fishing and respect for nature. Craig spent most of his free time outdoors, catching fish and sleeping under the stars. Depending on your outlook on life, life can't get more perfect. The little time he spent indoors was divided between sketching and homework.

Craig describes his artistic development as follows: "As an artist my career has been a stop start affair stretching back over 13 years. In the beginning I painted on a part-time basis in between sketching and illustrating for children's educational books and other illustration projects, after a few years of struggling to make ends meet, I got a "real" job at a printing company as a graphic designer for 4 years and then moved to NutriLida healthcare for another 4 years as their in-house designer. In the last 2 years while still stuck in the office, I decided to get back into my "first love" - painting. I began receiving private commissions almost immediately and every painting that I completed, led me to another commission. I felt alive again! But this double life started catching up with me and soon, all I was doing was work - I would have my day job, then nights and weekends would be consumed with building my painting career.





Things were going well though and my art was being published all over the world and, with all the requests coming in, I soon had to make the daunting decision to fly solo. At the beginning of this year I handed in my resignation and began living my life-long dream as an artist. I didn't have much time to savour the moment, I was flooded with private requests and commissions and although there have been one or two slack months, I have constantly been busy working on two or three projects at a time. It is a gift to be able to do what you love doing and that fulfills you and then still get paid for it. Equally special are the people that my art has led me to, the friends that I have made through this, and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that have taken me to exotic places in Africa".




Craig's preferred media are pencil and acrylic. Tuna and pelalgic species are his preferred subjects, but he enjoys painting all fish species.
His underwater fish scenes have become very popular. Living in Africa, its wildlife has now also become part of his repertoire.
As a fishing nut, preferring to fish with light tackle - fly and lure - his favourite fishing locations are Mozambique the Indian Ocean islands and the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
His most memorable fishing moment -- a Giant Trevally engulfing a popper -- is captured on canvas.


If you wish to commemorate a special fish or special moment fishing, feel free to call (083 519 7969) or email (craig.s@burst.co.za or craig@wildlifeartist.co.za) Craig or visit his website to see examples of the work of this talented fisher-artist. You won't be disappointed.