DAVID SHEPHERD
Contemporary Artist
David Shepherd
Contemporary Artist David Shepherd is regarded by many as the best wildlife painter in the world. While he is renowned for his studies of African wildlife his aviation, military and steam engine paintings are also very much sought after.David Shepherd studied in London under Robin Goodwin, an accomplished painter of marine subjects. He ascribes all his subsequent success to the dedication of Goodwin.
Having begun to paint wildlife in Kenya David Shepherd developed a passion for conservation and later formed the David Shepherd Conservation Foundation dedicated to protecting endangered species in the area. He is now recognised as a very dedicated and effective conservationist.
The work of David Shepherd is well represented in prints. Through this medium his work is present in countless homes around the world. His painting "Wise Old Elephant", published as an unlimited edition print in 1962, made David Shepherd an household name. The accomplishments of David Shepherd have been recognised on television (The Man who loves Giants, BBC; In Search of Wildlife, Thames TV; This is Your Life, BBC) and in book form (An Artist in Africa, Collins; The Man who loves Giants, autobiography; A Brush with Steam; David Shepherd, the Man and his Paintings; David Shepherd, An Artist in Conservation; David Shepherd, My Painting Life; David Shepherd, Only One World).
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David Shepherd
This David Shepherd original painting was executed during his early career when he specialised in aviation subjects. It is a superb example of his work depicting a crashed Messerschmitt Bf109e during the Battle of Britain. He now concentrates on African wildlife subjects. Original paintings by Shepherd are now almost impossible to find for sale. Click on pictures to enlarge. | David Shepherd | ||
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Description | Battle of Britain |
| Image size | 28" x 20" | |
| Frame size | Unframed | |
| Medium | Oil on canvas | |
| Price | RESERVED | |
| Item number | shepherd001 | |
The Messerschmitt Bf109e was the flagship fighter aircraft used by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain in the second world war. Detail from the painting is shown below.
Born in 1931 David Shepherd lived in London during World War 2 where he witnessed inspiring battles in the sky. He later gained permission to paint aviation subjects at Heathrow airport. He donated some of his paintings to the airlines and carried out commissions for them. As his reputation increased BOAC exhibited his work. In 1960 the Royal Air Force flew him to Kenya and commissioned him to paint a wildlife subject. He painted a rhino and went on to establish himself as a world renowned wildlife painter linking his art to African wildlife conservation projects. In 1977, in recognition of the influence of the RAF on his life, David Shepherd published a limited edition of 850 signed prints of a Lancaster bomber entitled "Winter of 43, somewhere in England". The proceeds were donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund.
