Throughout his career, Craig-Martin has worked in a variety of media from wall drawing and painting to sculpture and installation. His work asks questions about the status of art – what makes something a work of art? – and explores the expressive potential of everyday objects. One of his best-known artworks is the conceptual sculpture An Oak Tree (1973), in which a glass of water on a shelf is accompanied by a text in which the artist claims to have changed the glass of water into the oak tree of the work’s title. In more recent years, Craig-Martin has become known for his large-scale wall drawings of familiar household objects rendered in outline, appearing to float against brightly-coloured backgrounds.

A teacher at Goldsmiths’ College, London, from the 1970s to the 90s Craig-Martin is considered an influential figure in the emergence of the Young British Artists in the 1990s. His former students include Damien Hirst, Gary Hume and Sarah Lucas.