DAVID SHEPHERD | Camels on the Road to Fujairah Fort, Painted in 1997
Oil on Canvas
46 x 71 cms / 18 x 28 inches
Signed and dated 'David Shepherd '97' (lower right)
In this painting, Camels on the Road to Fujairah Fort, David Shepherd transports the viewer to the arid landscapes of the Middle East, where the golden hues of the desert meet the azure sky in a complementary dance of colours. The backdrop of the Fujairah Fort adds a historical dimension to the work, grounding the scene in the rich tapestry of the region's past. David visited the Middle East in 1953 and during his travels in the region he created numerous sketches of both the animals he encountered and the arid landscape, often punctuated with majestic architecture such as the Fujairah Fort.
David Shepherd is regarded by many as being the worlds leading wildlife artist. He started his artistic career as an aviation artist, and an early commission for the RAF took him to Kenya where David painted his first wildlife subject and he never looked back.
David's love of wildlife is apparent in all aspects of his life. In 1984 he established the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation to fund vital enforcement and community projects that protect wildlife survival in the natural habitat, and has since received many conservationist awards including an OBE.
David's distinctive style stems from a personal attachment with the animals of Kenya. His impasto brushwork in the foreground contrasted with the detailed and intricate depiction of the wild animals highlights the details of the rich African terrain and the fragility of the animals within.
