A PORT Glasgow artist has made the frame after being chosen to be exhibited by the prestigious Royal Scottish Academy.

Craig Peacock, 58, teaches graphic design and animation at West College Scotland in Paisley.

He says he feels honoured to be one of only 150 artists out of thousands to be selected outwith the membership of the RSA to be exhibited.

As part of the accolade Craig has also been named by the RSA as joint winner of the W. Gordon Smith and Jay Gordon Smith Award, which offers £4,000 prize money.

The former Port High pupil showed early promise by winning an award while still at school.

He went on to study at Glasgow School of Art where he graduated with a first class honours degree in fine art and went onto to do a postgraduate diploma

Craig said: "It's quite an honour to be chosen for the RSA because it is a fantastic show.

"This year 2,000 from outwith the RSA were invited to apply and 150 were chosen.."

His painting - called Canvas 1 - is on display at the National Gallery on The Mound in Edinburgh.

Craig, lived in Glen Avenue, Westray Avenue and Burnside Avenue and latterly Glenhuntly before moving to Glasgow.

He stays in the city's Gallowgate area where he also has a studio.

Craig has been in the art world since the early 1980s but still has a passion for what he does.

He said: "I started at art school in 1981 and did the post-grad in 1986.

"I teach four days a week and during the week and weekends any free time I have I work on my own portfolio."

He describes his work as being influenced by metaphor, mythology and symbolism and uses a variety of materials including charcoal, oils and acrylic.

Craig, a contemporary of the award-winning Alison Watt, has come a long way since his first exhibition at the Arts Guild, supported by legendary Gourock artist George Wyllie and his wife Daphne.

He hasn't exhibited locally since then but says he would be keen to do so if the opportunity arose.

Craig said: "There a lot of talented people in Inverclyde and there have been discussions to bring local artists together in the Beacon Arts Centre.

"I would be up for that."

The exhibition is on at Scottish National Gallery until December 11.