Ian Cowie

Despite a fascination for microphones from an early age, Ian focussed on the 3 sciences at school on the pretext of entering medical school. Minority Time Art was under the wing of master Nigel McIsaac, Past President of the Scottish Arts Club, enjoying a mix of pottery and design. Having built a cardboard model of a hemispherical house with slanted roof, Nigel was intrigued that Ian had ruled out architecture as a career option. Biological Science was another option, however Broadcasting was the ultimate goal. Ian joined the Edinburgh University Television Society and got behind a sound mixer for the first time: a platform towards the BBC.

Joining BBC Scotland in Glasgow in Dec 1975, a move to Edinburgh in July 1976 and a career lasting 33 years, Ian Cowie focused on radio sound operations, specialising in Radio Drama. In 1986 Ian transferred to television as news gathering sound recordist including extensive documentary work and sports coverage.

A life long love of food: with the nickname Mr Snax, Ian has a website with food blogs, appearing live on Radio Scotland at The Royal Highland Show. In 2008 winning ‘Scotland’s Curry Lover of The Year’ when first awarded. Ian has since travelled extensively in India “For me the most attractive country to visit and film” in addition to his beloved Scotland. Photography is now Ian Cowie’s main passion. “I have been fortunate to work over many years with Scotland’s best, both press and broadcast”.

With technology advancing at a rapid rate, the combination of improvements in resolution together with rapid fire has sharp-focussed Ian Cowie, leading to his mantra: The Moon at Night… Birds in Flight… And the FUNdamental of itself, LIGHT.

Awards

Scottish BAFTA for the story of injured athlete Cameron Sharp.
Sony Gold Award for the binaural production ‘Manderston,’
Radio and television Production: The highly acclaimed radio documentary 'Salmon Famine'.

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