David (Richard David) Shepherd (England / Kenya / Tanzania, 1931-2017), three lions to include lioness lounging on rocks, oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right, 1972

sight: 26 x 52 in., frame: 35 x 61 in.

Provenance: Property from a prominent Houston, Texas attorney

David Shepherd trained under British artist Robin Goodwin for three years after being rejected by the Slade School of Fine Art in London. He won a children’s painting competition sponsored by Nursery World magazine at age eight--and would later become one of the world's leading wildlife artists. Best known for his naturalistic depictions of African and Asian wildlife, particularly elephants, lions, and tigers, Shepherd became one of Britain’s most commercially successful and widely recognized wildlife artists beginning in the 1960s. Although his straightforward representational style received mixed reviews in fine-art circles, his work reached a vast audience and established him as a prominent figure in wildlife art. He also painted steam locomotives, aircraft, and military scenes and received notable commissions, including a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. In recognition of his conservation efforts, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1979 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2008 for services to charity and wildlife conservation.