John Norris Wood obituary

Had John Norris Wood, who has died aged 84, painted landscapes or portraits, he would have become one of Britain’s foremost artists. But as an impassioned conservationist with a deep devotion to the English countryside, he dedicated his life, and his art, to nature and wildlife.

The accuracy of his work, and its liveliness and beauty, brought him a wide and appreciative audience ranging from children to scientists. He provided illustrations for many cherished books, including the popular Nature Hide and Seek series, Jungles (1987), Rivers and Lakes (2004), and various volumes on reptiles and amphibians. He also designed a set of Royal Mail postage stamps in 1966 on British birds and provided illustrations for the Natural History Museum and London Zoo.