Norman McCanch

Norman McCanch was born in Wales in 1953 and originally trained as a taxidermist but then spent three years working as a lighthouse keeper around the coasts of England and Wales , before studying graphic design and illustration at Canterbury College of Art.

A keen ringer, he has held a licence since 1973 and was formerly warden of the bird observatories at Sandwich Bay and the Calf of Man. He gained a PhD in Avian Ecology from the University of Liverpool , and is a Chartered Biologist. He now teaches Biology and Chemistry at a Grammar school in Kent .

He wrote and illustrated ‘A Lighthouse Notebook’ and numerous articles on natural history and the countryside for a wide range of publications, while he has provided artwork for Birds of the Western Palaearctic, the Automobile Association and a number of bird reports. In 2003 he won the Identification plate category in the 'Artist of the Year Awards' run by Birdwatch magazine.

He has travelled throughout northern Europe and also visited Hungary , Greece , West Africa and Canada . Essentially a watercolour artist, he also enjoys the challenge of working in other media and usually works directly from nature.

Norman serves on the KOS Conservation & Surveys committee and is a 10km square steward. Much of his birding involves survey work for the society and the BTO.

He has his own website which can be viewed at http://www.normanmccanch.co.uk

Contact by e-mail: nvmccanch@hotmail.com