David Shepherd (1931-2017): A Life Dedicated to Art and Conservation
David Shepherd, CBE, FRSA, FGRA, was an internationally acclaimed British artist, best known for his paintings of wildlife, steam locomotives, and military scenes. His work has been immensely popular since the 1960s, and his dedication to conservation has left a lasting impact on the art world and beyond.
Early Life and Education
Born on April 25, 1931, in Hendon, London, David Shepherd won a children's painting competition in Nursery World magazine at the age of eight. He attended Stowe School in Buckinghamshire but was rejected by the Slade School of Fine Art in London. Undeterred, he studied under the artist Robin Goodwin for three years.
Artistic Development and Style
Shepherd began his career painting aviation scenes, drawing inspiration from his experiences during the Blitz in World War II. In 1960, a trip to Kenya, commissioned by the Royal Air Force, marked a turning point in his career as he painted his first wildlife picture. From then on, he became renowned for his detailed, realistic depictions of endangered animals in their natural habitats, as well as his paintings of steam locomotives, landscapes, and portraits.
Career Highlights and Achievements
David Shepherd's first one-man exhibition at the Tryon Gallery, London, in 1962 was a sell-out. He went on to publish several books, including his autobiography, "The Man Who Loves Giants" (1975), and "David Shepherd: The Man and His Paintings" (1985). Shepherd received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including an Honorary Degree in Fine Arts from the Pratt Institute in New York (1971), the Order of the Golden Ark by HRH The Prince of The Netherlands (1973), and the Order of the British Empire (1979) for his services to wildlife conservation.
Contributions to the Art Community and Conservation
Deeply affected by the sight of 255 dead zebras around a poisoned waterhole in Tanzania, David Shepherd became a passionate conservationist. He used his art to raise funds for wildlife conservation, establishing the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation in 1984. To date, the foundation has raised over £3 million to support conservation projects in Africa and Asia. Shepherd also founded the East Somerset Railway, a heritage steam railway in the UK, showcasing his love for steam locomotives.
Legacy and Impact
David Shepherd's unique style, combining artistic skill with a deep love for wildlife and conservation, has left an indelible mark on the art world. His paintings continue to be highly sought-after, and his legacy lives on through the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, which carries on his mission to protect endangered species and their habitats.
David Shepherd's life and work exemplify the power of art to inspire change and make a difference in the world. His passion for wildlife, conservation, and steam locomotives, combined with his exceptional talent as an artist, has made him one of the most beloved and influential figures in British art history. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists and conservationists alike.
His Work
We have split our David Shepherd - Wildlife Of The World Portfolio ❤️ (released from 1997 to 1999) into its eight individual wildlife titles, to allow more people to purchase from this most sort after of series. These individual limited edition titles are rare collector's items and would make great gift ideas as we come up to Christmas! - October 2020
David Shepherd CBE (1931-2017) was born in London and renowned in Britain & internationally for his magnificent paintings of wildlife & big game and he would go on to become ones of the world's most prominent protectors of them. He was also accomplished at painting steam trains, aircraft, landscapes and indeed people.
**A compilation of archive footage of David, in tribute to the artist:
David made a welcome 'artist appearance' at one of the My Perfect Art Gallery locations in the early 1990s in Barkingside (London) much to the delight of his avid fanbase that attended on the special day; in those days, such events where very rare indeed and I feel very privileged to have met him - we have pictures somewhere!
He also had a friendship with top graphite artist Mike Sibley and David wrote the forward to the 2nd edition of Mike's bestselling 'how to draw' book.
His art has been popular and widely collected since the 1960s, including a long running series of signed limited edition prints & silkscreens, he has also authored a handful of books about his art & conservation work.
Growing up in North London, Shepherd showed his artistic talent from as young as 8 years old when he won a children's art competition.
The young Shepherd was also an avid conservationist and even went to Kenya when he left school in the hopes of becoming a game warden but was turned away. He then decided to pursue a career in art and was once again turned down by The Slade School of Fine Art (now part of University College London) but luckily, artist Robin Goodwin agreed to train David over the course of 36 months.
**2015 Interview with David by SurreyTV in his studio:
David went on to have a legendary art career and gained the dual distinction of being the UK’s most popular wildlife artist and the most famous artist involved in conservation in the 20th Century. A third string in his bow is that David was instrumental in the preservation of old steam locomotives in several areas around the United Kingdom, founding the East Somerset Railway and indeed in Africa - including South Africa and Zimbabwe.
His legacy lives on in the countless thousands of his limited editions, art prints, originals and books in homes around the world and his Foundation (also known by the acronym 'DSWF'), which continues the conservation work which was David’s lifelong passion.
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