Craig Pursley

Craig started early in art, obtaining professional commissions at 14. He was chosen as Nebraska’s Outstanding Young Artist at 17 and the following year completed a large mural, which is still displayed in his high school.

While in college he worked as a composite artist for several law enforcement agencies including the F.B.I. and continued doing so after becoming an art teacher in Colorado.

In 1983, Craig moved to California where he began work as an illustrator for a major newspaper. During this time, he also achieved considerable notoriety as a sports artist for the California Angels, Topps Baseball Card Co., and Upper Deck Baseball Card Co.

In 2002, Craig and his wife, Julie, moved to New Hampshire where he paints the beauty of New England in addition to running the American Heritage Gallery of Art in Bath, New Hampshire. He is a member of the California Art Club, The Portrait Society of America (who have chosen his portfolio as one of the top ten in both 2011 and 2012) and Oil Painters of America (where he recently won second place in a national competition).

His work can be seen in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, The Nolan Ryan Museum, The Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site and The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. His paintings are also in private collections from coast to coast and in Europe. He has won many awards including two chosen from nearly 6,000 entries in international competitions. Recently, he was chosen by New Hampshire Magazine as “Best White Mountain Artist” and has two portraits on permanent display in the state house in Concord.