James Humbert Craig RHA RUA

James Humbert Craig (1877-1944) was a landscape painter born in Belfast. He initially attended the Belfast School of Art but failed to complete even one term, making him a largely self-taught artist. His passion for the outdoors and landscape meant that the Glens of Antrim, Donegal and Connemara were his most popular subjects. He briefly emigrated to the United States, but only stayed for a short time before returning to County Down.

Craig’s work first appeared at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1915, where he continued to exhibit until his death. In 1928, Craig was elected to the Royal Ulster Academy and the Royal Hibernian Academy. Additionally, he exhibited his work at the Fine Arts Society in London and was an academician of the Ulster Academy of Arts. His paintings exemplify his simple golden rule, to ‘never try to improve on nature’. In Belfast, he exhibited at the Belfast Art Society’s exhibitions, and also the Magee Gallery. A memorial exhibition of his work was held at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery in 1945, further retrospective exhibitions were held at the Oriel Gallery, Dublin (1978) and the Ulster Museum (2000).