Mel Crawford
Canadian 1925 -

Even as a small boy growing up in Canada, Mel Crawford knew he wanted to be an artist when he grew up. During World War II he served in the Canadian Navy, afterwards using his veteran's benefits to attend the Royal Ontario College of Art. After graduation, Crawford came to the United States and worked for Disney studios, the popular children's television program Sesame Street and several publishing houses. Widely acclaimed as a painter and illustrator, Crawford has exhibited his art throughout the United States and Canada. His work can be found in museums and in private collectors' homes. Fleetwood collectors well remember Crawford for the 1979 series The Flags of Canada, and for Flags of the United Nations series (1980-2001). In 1985 he was awarded the Grumbacher Gold Medal, best in show, Kent Art Association. Crawford's painting Summer Treasures was a finalist in the 1990 Arts for the Parks competition. Crawford served as artist-in-residence at Montana's Glacier National Park in 2000 and Maine's Acadia National Park in 2001.