Marc Craig – "Barratt Twins" Original

Marc Craig – Barratt Twins

Original Mixed Media Artwork - July 1975 Barratt Homes Estate Map | Framed | 98 × 73cm

A striking and deeply expressive original artwork by London-based multidisciplinary artist Marc Craig, Barratt Twins brings together Neo-Expressionism, urban art, historical cartography and personal storytelling in a bold, character-filled composition.

Created directly onto an original Barratt Homes estate map dating from July 1975, the artwork transforms a historical planning document into a vibrant piece of contemporary art, giving new life and meaning to a surface originally created for an entirely different purpose.

At the centre of the composition are two wonderfully expressive, skull-like characters, positioned side by side. Their exaggerated features, oversized eyes and distinctive markings create an immediate visual impact, combining playful cartoon imagery with the raw energy of graffiti and expressive painting.

The characters are outlined in bold black strokes, with contrasting details in electric blue, turquoise, white, red and orange. Their unconventional expressions and almost skeletal appearances introduce an intriguing balance between humour, identity and mortality.

Behind the figures, the original 1975 Barratt Homes estate map remains visible, with its architectural layouts, printed details and aged paper tones forming an integral part of the composition.

This historical background is far more than a decorative surface. It connects the artwork to ideas of place, memory, development and the passage of time, transforming an ordinary planning document into something personal, expressive and unexpected.

The contrast between the precise, functional nature of the original map and Marc's spontaneous, instinctive mark-making is particularly compelling. Where the map represents structure, planning and order, the painted figures introduce freedom, emotion and unpredictability.

The two characters appear connected yet distinctly individual, encouraging interpretations surrounding relationships, shared identity, human connection and the different personalities that exist within us all.

Barratt Twins also reflects Marc's wider exploration of maps as artistic surfaces. Through his ongoing map paintings and collaborative MIND THE MAP project, he has developed a distinctive practice that transforms historical documents into expressive artworks exploring memory, personal history and the human experience.

Influenced by A.R. Penck, the CoBrA movement and Neo-Expressionism, Marc embraces bold imagery, unconventional characters and the freedom of spontaneous artistic expression.

The result is a piece that feels both playful and thought-provoking, inviting viewers to look closer and discover new details within the layers of paint and the original map beneath.

This is a unique, one-off original artwork, created on an authentic July 1975 Barratt Homes estate map rather than a reproduction.

Presented within a substantial contemporary white frame with a complementary white mount, measuring 98 × 73cm, Barratt Twins is an exceptional statement piece for collectors who appreciate original British contemporary art, expressive painting, street art and artworks with genuine historical character.

Product Details

• Artist: Marc Craig

• Title: Barratt Twins

• Medium: Original mixed media painting

• Surface: Authentic Barratt Homes estate map dated July 1975

• Size: 98 × 73cm framed

• Edition: Unique original artwork, 1/1

• Colour: Black, electric blue, turquoise, white, red, orange and natural aged paper tones

• Special Features: Two expressive skull-like characters painted directly onto an original 1975 estate map, incorporating historical cartographic details into the composition

• Presentation: Framed in a contemporary white frame with a white mount

• Style: Contemporary / Neo-Expressionism / urban art / graffiti-inspired painting / mixed media

• Theme: Identity, human connection, memory, history, urban development, relationships and artistic expression

• Collection: Marc Craig's original map paintings

About the Artist | Marc Craig

Marc Craig is a London-based multidisciplinary artist whose creative practice spans murals, painting, sculpture and collaborative projects.

Originally from Winchester, with strong Cornish roots, Marc trained in textiles, ceramics and contemporary visual arts, developing a distinctive visual language combining intricate doodles, bold imagery, playful characters and expressive mark-making.

His work encourages viewers to look beyond the immediate image, discovering unexpected details and forming their own personal connections with each composition.

Collaboration sits at the heart of Marc's artistic practice. His experiences at London's famous Leake Street, a celebrated centre of street art and urban creativity, helped shape his belief that artistic expression develops through experimentation, creative exchange and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.

One of his most personal projects, MIND THE MAP, brought together 55 fellow artists to create 110 artworks using maps from his late father's collection.

The project transformed objects of personal significance into a wider exploration of memory, connection, artistic collaboration and shared imagination.

Alongside MIND THE MAP, Marc has developed his own extensive collection of original map paintings, transforming historical cartographic documents into expressive contemporary artworks.

Described by Marc as raw expressions of taking the inside outside, these paintings have become a deeply therapeutic process and a continuing source of personal discovery.

Drawing inspiration from Neo-Expressionism, Marc's strongest artistic influences include A.R. Penck and the expressive freedom of the CoBrA movement. While viewers may recognise similarities with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Marc's distinctive approach is rooted in his own experiences, emotional exploration and instinctive creativity.

His paintings frequently emerge during spontaneous bursts of artistic energy, sometimes in the early hours of the morning, with experimental electronic music providing the soundtrack to his creative process.

From expressive self-portraits to surreal characters and imaginative figures, the works offer a deeply personal insight into Marc's evolving creative world.

His wider collection of map paintings is being celebrated through the online exhibition EYES WIDE OPEN, opening on 1 November, while other map artworks are exhibited at ANTIKULT GALLERY in Hamburg.

Beyond painting, Marc explores the relationship between mental health, self-discovery, philosophy, mathematics and artificial intelligence through projects including ITVOIDS, The Wooden Idol and The Turing Chamber.

Through The Ark of Extinction, he also connects public art with wildlife conservation and community participation, demonstrating his belief that creativity can have a meaningful impact beyond the gallery.

Across his diverse practice, Marc remains driven by curiosity, experimentation and the desire to create meaningful conversations.

His artwork is an invitation to look closer, question what we see and discover our own connections within the layers of imagery, history and emotion.

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