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"After originally drawing
maps for Ordnance Survey, Norman became General
Eisenhower's personal map-maker in World War 2.
Moving on to official photographer for UNRRA , recording
the rehabilitation of refugees, evacuation, hospital
work, setting up of new schools, workshops, etc.
From several hundred photographs the Imperial War
Musuem mounted an exhibition of his work. After
spells working for Heals and teaching at the London
School of Art he moved into commercial illustration
producing the Glass and a half milk poster for Cadburys
Chocolate, the Wilkinson Crossed Swords, wrappers
for Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles, Heinz Tomato Ketchup,
Salad Cream and many more that are instantly recognisable.
Later he wrote a book of his own, "How to Draw
Insects", and that really started the wildlife
illustration. He illustrated many of the plants
and animals in the Readers Digest and AA books and
Atlases, along with numerous other educational books
about insects, fish, whales, dolphins.His final
work was a three year project for all the illustrations
in a large book called "The Fresh and Saltwater
Fishes of the World"
" He had a vast knowledge of natural history,
and knew all the names of plants and animals, passing
this onto us when we used to go for our daily walks
with the dog or when we helped in the garden. I've
never forgotten it, and sometimes I surprise myself
by being able to name some obscure little weed.
He had a huge respect for all forms of life, however
small (partly due to the sense of wonder he felt
at having to draw the intricacies of, say, the workings
of joints of tiny insects), and could never bring
himself to kill anything - another legacy he passed
on to me. Many a wasp should be grateful to him!
He worked from home in a studio which was a converted
bedroom. The room was chaotic, and you had to wade
through a sea of crumpled up bits of paper, discarded
tubes of paint, and right in the middle of this
appallingly messy scene would be a tiny little painting,
intricately beautiful and accurate in every detail.
My walls are festooned with original artwork which
he just did for himself. Lovely pieces, and we never
tire of looking at them. Most of all, he was the
most terrific Father to my sister and me - enormous
fun, with a zest for life and zany sense of humour.
He was disorganised and funny, and used to disappear
into the garage from time to time to make and invent
things (his carpentry skills were legendary). "
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