David Shepherd CBE (1931–2017) British, Wildlife Lithograph Print "Sketch for Painting-- African Bull Elephant". Limited edition signed lithograph print wildlife illustration of an African bull elephant in blue tones. Signed in plate. Pencil signed on matte. Numbered 468/850. Framed.

Overall Size: 34 x 38 in.
Sight Size: 28 1/2 x 32 1/2 in.

David Shepherd CBE (1931–2017) was a celebrated British wildlife artist and passionate conservationist whose richly textured paintings of African elephants, tigers, steam locomotives, and vintage aircraft achieved international acclaim. Born in Hendon, London, he originally aspired to become a game warden before pivoting to art, studying under painter Robin Goodwin after an unsuccessful application to the Slade School of Fine Art. His 1960 RAF-commissioned painting of a rhinoceros on a runway marked a turning point, sparking his lifelong dedication to wildlife art and conservation. Shepherd’s widely reproduced works, including iconic pieces like Wise Old Elephant and Tiger Fire, sold in the hundreds of thousands and helped fund major conservation efforts—most notably raising £127,000 for Operation Tiger in 1973. In 1984, he founded the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, which has since donated millions to protect endangered species across Asia and Africa. Honored with an OBE in 1980 and elevated to CBE in 2008, Shepherd continued painting until his death in 2017, leaving a legacy that bridged art and wildlife preservation.