About Me / Contact
Hi there
I’m Craig, I’m a Ceramist, textile designer / illustrator and photographer who has interests in many areas. My inspiration often comes from unlikely sources and seems to form itself into quirky characters. These live and run around in my head for a while, until they are released onto the page through my drawings or into ceramic form. I live in Manchester, UK. My ceramic work is available to purchase on http://www.instagram.com/fishinkblog Thank you.
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fishinkblog.com 
I like your blog – a really interesting mix and lots of good links too.
Hi Mary. Great to know that you like the postings, thank you for letting me know.
Cheers Craig
Cheers for the coverage Craig – love the blog! Sarah
No problem, was great to catch up again. Hope the show was good for you and to speak again soon.
How nice to be included on you blog
No worries Chris, you’re work is quite an inspiration, please feel free to keep me posted on anything new and I’ll happily add it to a relevant post.
I clicked on your link Chris and it crashed my safari haha
Thank you for adding a link to my web site – I feel honoured 🙂
Celia
Thanks Celia. You’re work is beautiful and the more people who get the chance to see it the better 🙂
Hi Craig,
Thanks for blogging about me in January! That was very kind of you!
I thought you you might like to know that I have a couple of new online print shops:
http://www.jessiefordshop.com
and for kids prints:
http://www.sugarsnapstudio.co.uk
If you would like any more info about me, just shout!
Thanks! Happy Easter 🙂
Jessie
No worries Jessie, the work looks great, hope it’s bringing in some business for you. All the best Craig
Hi i wondered wether any of norman makinsons ceramics are in prodution still…infact it was the cast iron birds that ireally liked regards chris
Sorry Chris I don’t know the answer there, he produced some amazing work, it would be great to think that you could still get hold of them.
It’s nice I’ve found you – so many interesting things to see and to read. Thanks a lot for sharing all that interesting stuff 🙂
Welcome aboard as they say lol. Please feel free to chip in and comment as and when you feel inclined. Lovely jewellery by the way. Craig
Your blog is amazing ! Such a variety of wonderful artists and illustrators, it’s a real treasure box, thank you.
Hi there
How kind of you to stop by and tell me, it’s your comments that make it all worth while. So glad you’re enjoying the blogs too. Happy New Year
Craig,
I was looking at your blog and came across the Kenneth Townsend, Scenes of London collection on glass trays produced by Chance Brothers, I have the set of 6 that you show on your page.. I am not sure how knowledgeable you are on these. But I was hoping to get a sense of their value. I can’t find much information on them here, and he seems to be unknown in America. Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!
-Ainsley
Hi Ainsley, thanks for your comment. How lovely to have the set of these ! I’ve seen one last year on Ebay with a starting price of £25 ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kenneth-Townsend-London-Policeman-Chance-Glass-/190561016731#ht_500wt_1413 ) but i’d also suggest getting in touch with someone like Adelle and Justin the good people over on http://hisforhomeblog.com who may be able to advise you, also the http://www.kenneth-townsend.co.uk/ may be useful too. Good luck in your search.
Hi Craig,
I just found your blog after seeing a link on a tweet from Hannah@Radiance.
It is quite simply the most beautiful blog I’ve ever seen – well done!
Regards,
Rob
Rob thank you very much for your kind words, always great to hear when people like what you’re doing. Thanks for letting me know. Cheers Craig
Dear Criag
I thought you might be interested in my latest book
http://www.merrellpublishers.com/?9781858945736
Thanks for the update Chris, it looks fab. I’ll try and mention it soon. Hope all is well with you. Craig
not sure if i thanked you either Craig.Thanks for including me also in your blog.I really appreciate it.thanks a lot.cheers.connor maguire
Cheers Connor, it hope it brings you some luck and free exposure, we all can do with a little of each eh ! 🙂 All the best Craig
Hi Craig,
came across your blog purely by accident, and was very pleased by your kind comments on my painting ‘The Girl in Hyacinth Blue’ – I am glad you liked it!! Take a look at my website- looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Kind regards
Anthony
No problem Anthony, nice of you to let me know as well. I’ll take a look at your site too. Thanks Craig
Really inspired works here. Think I might pick up the brush.
Great to hear you’ve found something to inspire you, thanks for your comment.
Love the blog and found some great links dotted around!
I’d love to know what you thought of my art! http://northernwarpaint.tumblr.com/
Cheers!!
Thanks for that Tom, glad you’re enjoying the site. I’ll pop over and have a look. Cheers Craig
I love your blog: creative, inspirational – just an honest reflection of where you’re at. Thank you for sharing it – taking time with it.
Thanks Rosanna for the comment. It’s great to get feedback and hear that people are appreciating the writing and ideas. Hope this finds you well. Craig
Hi Craig,
I really love reading your blog. I think its great inspiration for all artists. I would like to feature your blog my blog here: http://www.kellycaroline.com/blog . If that sounds good to you, let me know!
Thanks, looking forward to hearing from you.
*Kelly*
Thanks so much Kelly. Sounds good to me, I’ll drop you a line to confirm too. So pleased you find my blog inspiring. All the best Craig
I quite never understood why people read blogs – to me blogs just where a simple way of promoting yourself. A month ago I accidentally saw your blog and I simple keep coming back! I really find a lot of your postings really interesting and inspiring – I don’t read a lot of your stuff, but I find most of the pictures speak for them self! So keep up the god work and I’ll try to keep up with you:)
I hope my English is understandable.
Thanks so much from here – Mette!
Hi Mette, your English is great and I appreciate the sentiment behind your message also. It’s lovely to hear when someone really connects with what you’re saying or the things you also like aesthetically. Please do keep coming back and feel free to comment whenever you feel that urge too lol Hope this finds you well. Thanks Craig
Your blog is a great resource – stumbled across it by accident (as one does) and it’s just
great. Cheers
Thanks Barry and welcome to you. I like your quirky drawing style. It feels like a cross between Mr Ben and Beryl Cook lol. So pleased you like my blog, thanks for sharing that.
I was pleased to have a look at your fishink stationery website. I enjoyed the style. Go well.
Many Thanks Barry
Hello Craig,
I’ve been a silent follower of your blog for a long time. So I really must tell you what a delight it is to open up Fishink and discover your latest artist or read about the places you have visited. I’m a Brit living in the States so your travels in England always make me want to fly home and travel there too. You have also introduced me to many new artists. Your coverage is exceptional.
Many, many thanks for bringing always a warm smile to my heart!
Sarah
Sarah, it’s so lovely to get this message, as your warm thoughts and words have made me smile today too. I so appreciate you letting me know your thoughts about the blog and coming out of the ‘blog closet’ lol (what) and not being a ‘silent’ follower any longer. It does mean a lot to me when people take the time to share their thoughts here. As you know I’m a huge fan of the USA and often include many artists from there. If there’s anyone you think I’d like, please feel free to throw me a line (as it were). Happy day and please feel free to comment whenever you feel like it. Cheers Craig
Thanks to The Good Web Guide and Mark Hearld I have spent the last couple of hours totally engrossed in your blog. Such a feast, totally mouthwatering and has helped take my mind away from the dislocated fracture to my left elbow that I am currently nursing. Thank you for sharing, thank you for the pain relief, you’ve just gained another follower!
Elaine, how lovely of you to let me know. Welcome onboard and I hope the backlog of articles on my site, sees your arm through it’s recovery period. All the very best Craig
Hi Craig! I’ve been following your blog and really love al the great illustration that you unearth. I worked in Manchester for most of the 1990s – were you there then? Just wondering if we’d met in a previous life
Hi Max, Many thanks for the comment re the blog. Alas I don’t think our paths crossed whilst in Manchester as I was living north of the city and only skirted around it to go to work. Great to know that the pieces I’m discovering are working for others too. Appreciate the message. So where are you now ? All the best Craig
Hi Craig, I’m currently in Edinburgh. Was very active in Manchester in the 90s – regular illustrator in City Life and the Big Issue plus lots and lots of covers for Manchester University Press. Hoping to build a similar clientele here, and love your blog as there’s always new styles and techniques to inspire me! Max
Edinburgh is a firm fav city too and I’m often there. I used to read City Life so must have seen your work before. Hope things go well for you there and so pleased to hear you like the blog. Craig
Craig, great blog. I am helping start a company called “The Starving Canvas” where we are making art less static through innovative products such as our “moving canvas” line. Drop me a line or check us out at http://www.thestarvingcanvas.com, FB, @starvingcanvas, or our soon to be Kickstarter campaign.
Hi there
Thanks for your message, I’ll have a look at your site once it’s up and running, so pleased to hear you like the blog. Thanks Craig
My name is Anada L. Pearson Love. I am Josesph W. Pearson’s daughter and I am in receipt of your letter to my Mother. I have been talking it over with Mom and have been gathering some info in reference to your questions. Thank you for your interest in my Father’s very diversified work.
P.S. Your website is unique and so very interesting! We are enjoying it immensley!
Hi Anada L, it’s lovely to hear that and I do appreciate you telling me too. Many thanks. Craig
Great blog – love the Robert Hodgson piece – Jacob Stead is another very talented Bristol Based illustrator!
Thanks Andrea, I’ll be sure to check out Jacob’s work, thanks for the tip.
Congratulations you have a wonderfully beautiful and original blog. Terribly inspiring! Look forward to following it more ardently in the future.
Thanks Rochelle, I will aim to keep you entertained then lol
Hi Craig. Discovered your blog recently. Nice work. I’ll be visiting Manchester for the first time later this year (Sept.) for a conference. Any recommendations on where to wander about to see interesting street/urban art?
Hi Bruce
Thanks for your message and comments on the blog. The street art in Manchester does tend to move about a little so it’s never where you saw it last, however there’s usually something to see around Stevenson Square and Spear Street and generally around the Northern Quarter it’s a good place for small one off folk / art galleries etc. Also usually something on Wakefield Street, Manchester, M1 5NP.
Hope you enjoy your stay, and please tell your friends about the blog too.
All the best Craig
really vibrant designs and inspiring- thank you
Thanks Sarah. Love the animal illustrations of yours too. Great to see such energy.
Hi Craig. I’m trying to follow you on twitter but it doesn’t seem to link for some reason. Could you let me know your username and I’ll search for you that way. Thanks
Hi Juliet its wwwfishinkcouk I mostly just tweet about my blog posts. Happy Twitterings. Thanks Craig
Thanks Craig, I’ve found and followed you. I think we have very similar taste by the looks of your blog.
Thanks Juliet, great to hear I’m not alone in my likes. Please feel free to share my blog with your friends, with similar tastes to you, they may like it too : ) Happy Midweek
Your site must of taken forever to do
Its fantastic to have so much information
I’m looking at mid century childrens illustrators
But getting distracted by everything else!
Thanks Sonia, It does take up a lot of time, but I enjoy it too, it’s a labour of love lol Thanks for your comments, nice to hear it’s appreciated.
Thanks for including me as part of your blog Craig, I really appreciate the coverage.
All the best. Melvyn
You’re welcome, keep up with ‘The Worry’, it’s a great idea.
Magnifique!!!
Thanks for sharing your passion and insights. Love the graphics and illustrations.
Cheers,
Dean.
Appreciate your comment Dean, so pleasing to hear when others like what you do : )
Thanks for sharing that too
Craig
Craigus, Its award season and I’ve nominated you for The One Lovely Blog Award because I think your blog is, indeed, lovely! You don’t need to do anything, just keep the great posts a-coming!! http://wp.me/p3asep-Af Huge hugs ;o)
This really is an excellent, well researched blog. Chris Mees, Editor, Arts: Search
Many thanks Chris, much appreciated.
Glad you appreciate my Uncle Joe’s artwork.
Thanks Ralph. If you have any more information, images or memories of him that you might like to share, then please feel free to get in touch. Many thanks for your comment, Joe did some amazing work.
Thank you so much Craig for your work and for being such a sensitive, caring person.
Lovely to be appreciated for both Maxine.
One of the very best blogs around – many thanks
Thanks James, so kind of you to say so. Much appreciated.
What an inspiration-packed blog! It’s an education. Keep shinin’ on!
Thank you Laura, much appreciate your comments.
What a life-enhancing blog. Thank you!
Cheers Noelle and Welcome 😊
You have such an amazing blog and collection of vintage artists! Love all your articles and all the works of art you’ve post. This, by far, is my favorite website! I also enjoyed looking at children’s picture book illustrations. So nostalgic! Kudos to a job well-done!
Thank you Geraldine for your follow and lovely words. Much appreciated.
I just love your blogs and all your varied illustrations from so many talented artists.What is so good is that by the time I’ve looked at them all,I realise that I feel really happy !My usual early morning grumpiness has vanished….it really sets me up for the day.I’ve forwarded your website details to several artist friends who have nothing but praise for it too.An absolute joy of a website…Thank you!
Ahh thank you Anna. That’s so lovely to read and thanks for taking the time to tell me too. That’s what it’s all about for me, spreading joy through Art. All the best Craig
Such a lovely blog …. just came here by accident and looking forward to read it all!
Thank you, so glad to have you onboard : )
I have literally HUNDREDS of vintage Ladybird books, some of which are illustrated by Charles Tunnicliffe…..beautiful.(However,his surname has been misspelled on the heading so you may want to correct that.)I so enjoy your site…it fairly sets me up for the rest of the day and I’ve recommended it to so many friends.Thank you!!
Well spotted Anna, all done and thanks for telling your friends about my blog. : )
Thank you so much Craig for all the time and effort you put into compiling those colourful and informative illustrations of the very best illustrators from the past and currently working in that field. It must take you ages to research and post them all along with your own work as a ceramist.I really do appreciate your website……it makes me happy!!! Have a joyful Christmas. Best wishes from Bonnie Scotland!!
Thank you Anna , all the very best Craig