“You can always build another steam engine, but you can never build another tiger.” - David Shepherd

David Shepherd, the internationally renowned British wildlife artist, was well known for his paintings of elephants, tigers, and other wild animals of Africa and Asia, which he generally rendered in a straightforward, naturalistic style. His love of painting wildlife led him to become a leading conservationist as well, establishing the foundation which bears his name, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, in 1984. 

David began his career as an aviation artist and, while on assignment in Kenya in 1960, he was commissioned for his first wildlife painting: a rhino on a runway. He never looked back. Throughout his career David tried to do all he could to repay the enormous debt he felt he owed to the elephants, tigers and other animals that gave him so much success as an artist. He dedicated his life to raising awareness and funding for wildlife conservation efforts, using his incredible artistic skill to inspire change and make a positive impact on the preservation of endangered species and their habitats. The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation persists in funding vital enforcement and community projects that continue to make a real difference in wildlife survival today.

The critically endangered tiger provided much inspiration for David. His tiger paintings, infused with a deep sense of compassion and empathy for these endangered creatures, are some of the most dramatic in his portfolio and are renowned for their incredible detail and remarkable realism. David chose to depict tigers in their natural habitats, showcasing their beauty in the wild. His ability to capture the intricate details of a tiger’s fur, its majestic stripes, the intensity of its gaze and the lushness of its surroundings exemplify his mastery of wildlife art.

The two tigers featured in A Quiet Place appear content in their environment, taking a respite from the midday heat near a secluded pool. While one stands guard with a watchful eye, the other luxuriously relaxes. The viewer is drawn into their private panorama, the sense of seclusion accentuated by the abstract rendering of moss and grass around the edges of the canvas.