A quest for conservation - By: David Tatham

It is an unlikely combination, but Mr David Shepherd OBE MBE has a great interest in all three subjects.

The steam trains have been a life long passion since his early childhood, and the thrill of standing on the footplate of a steam train racing along the track has remained with him ever since.

In fact as he became more successful as an artist, he was able to indulge in this passion, not only by painting some wonderfully atmospheric works of art, such as 'On Shed', Giants at rest', 'Over the Forth', Scotsman '34', 'Wilesden shed', but by saving several engines from the scrap heap and restoring them to their former glory so that they could be enjoyed by all.. A steam engine was even brought back to the UK by travelling overland across Africa. Aeroplanes were a part of his early career, the RAF commissioned him to paint from several locations including the Middle East.. which helped with the contacts and placed him in an environment suitable for the launch of main and highly successful career as a wildlife artist.

He had always dreamt of working in Africa in the great wildlife parks.. this was not to be... The creation of an Elephant painting was the begining of a long and interesting artistic journey.

With many journeys to Africa and India, David Shepherd had soon built up an impressive portfolio of original work that had become highly sought after, and with the technology of modern printing, many of these paintings were used to produce signed limited edition prints, therefore enabling a greater section of the general public to own and enjoy his work.

All this began around the early 1960's, and throughout the years of painting, David Shepherd turned his mind to the sobering reality of world resources, the conservation of our planet and our attempts to save the many struggling species in the world.

Throughout the fifty or so years of his work, David Shepherd has raised many thousands of pounds and saved countless species of animals, relentlessly giving talks on the conservation of our fragile planet across the country.

Over the last decade man's awareness of the necessity to 'save the planet' has become more serious. Once the domain of well meaning young people... Human life, plant life, wild life, and the reduction of carbon dioxide are now current topics of conversation for politicians across the globe.

About the Author

Specialist art dealer David Tatham has a collection of over five hundred David Shepherd limited edition prints and paintings. These can be viewed and bought at http://www.davidshepherd.com

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/David-Tatham/67295

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