Craig Black, a Scottish artist, discovered his passion for art after quitting his career as a professional footballer. Black, from Greenock, had always had a love for drawing alongside his footballing ambitions. However, he eventually left football after struggling to make it as a professional player. Black decided to return to his childhood love of drawing and design when he enrolled in a course at Glasgow’s Cardonald College. He played for Largs Thistle while studying but knew that his future now lay in art.
After graduating in 2013, Black moved to London and worked for design agencies, focusing on typography. His work on Rangers FC’s new typeface in 2020 was a particular highlight. Throughout his day job, he was establishing his own studio back home in Scotland, aimed at becoming a visual artist.
Black’s love for art and football resulted in him pioneering a new form of artwork involving coloured paint poured over footballs. He came up with this idea after creating some football artwork that marked Scotland’s qualification for the European Championships. His concept, Acrylic Fusion, went viral across social media platforms, and commissions soon followed from the Premier League and football governing bodies such as UEFA and FIFA.
Black’s work has taken him to high-profile events such as the Qatar World Cup in 2022 and the 2023 Champions League Final in Istanbul. He was asked to create a ball for each of the 32 teams participating in the World Cup and was even invited to demonstrate his skills in front of illustrious footballers like Cafu and Roberto Carlos. Black’s enterprise has since extended to other sports, such as US basketball and the NFL.
Black’s wife, Ally, has also joined the family business, managing the day-to-day operations, and they are proud to base themselves in Inverclyde. After taking risks and investing in themselves, the Blacks remain intent on inspiring others to chase their own dreams, no matter their background or location. They have an upcoming solo exhibition in Sydney’s Vandal Gallery, showcasing progressive art
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