In our laboratory, we coherently manipulate the electron spin states in artificial atoms (point defects in diamond or silicon carbide) by laser beams and microwave fields of appropriate frequency. We transcribe the information carried by the electron spin into a nuclear spin around the artificial atom, thus using it as a quantum memory. Through resonant excitation, we encode the information carried by the electron spin, or indirectly the nuclear spin, into the time bins or the polarisation of the emitted photons. This realises the spin-photon interface enabling us to send or receive quantum information.