[2] Crawford was born in Busby, East Renfrewshire and studied at the Glasgow School of Art, where he was taught by Maurice Greiffenhagen from 1919 to 1923.
[3][4] He also completed murals at the John Brown & Company shipyard and at the Scottish Brewers premises in Glasgow.
[2][5] When Crawford's depiction of wartime casualties, Tribute to Clydebank (The Stretcher Bearers) was shown at the Royal Academy in 1942 it was declared 'picture of the year' and he considered it his best work.
This was followed by a subject for the Ministry of Home Security in February 1942 and finally a portrait of a Company Sergeant-Major in the Seaforth Highlanders which was completed in May 1942.
[3] He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1938 and became a full member in 1956.