He is renowned for his expressive use of wood and metal letterforms in creating visuals for commissions and his own limited edition prints. Kitching cofounded the Experimental Printing Workshop with Anthony Froshaug and was influenced by him at Watford College of Technology in 1964. He later became partner at Omnific Studios where he started letterpress printing.

In 1994 Alan Kitching was appointed Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) and elected member of Alliance Graphique International (AGI). Alan is Honorary Fellow of The Royal College of Art and Visiting Professor, University of the Arts London. Alan has conducted his workshops and given talks to industry, art schools and design conventions in UK, Europe, Australia and South Africa.