Nomads, The Award Winning New Collection
Over the last year I have been working in East Africa, creating new images. Here, for the first time, they are made available as prints, exclusively via Red Eight Gallery.
Nomads
‘Nomads’, my second gallery collection, expands on my debut ‘African Origins’ portfolio. Created in East Africa each image is driven by my desire to depict wildlife in their natural environment, displaying organic behaviours. As a result this collection has been some of the most challenging yet enjoyable work of my career.
Kalite | Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya | September 2021
Standard: 48”x35” (Edition of 5) Large: 73”x50” (Edition of 3)
Knowing we had to top our ‘African Origins’ collection, and produce original work, meant visiting new locations and working with different species. In the end I visited seven locations across two African countries - Kenya and Uganda - but ultimately felt that just six images lived up to high the standards we set.
While some were the result of dozens if not hundreds of attempts, others were instinctive ‘spur of the moment’ creations.
‘Michael’ for instance, was the culmination of five days spent following the same elephant, waiting for three vital elements to come together; a clear view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, strong cloud formations and a front on view of one of Africa’s future icons.
Michael | Amboseli, Kenya | September 2021
Standard: 48”x32” (Edition of 5) Large: 74”x50” (Edition of 3)
On the other hand, ‘Storm’, my first zebra print to be released, was the product of ‘right place, right time’, as a herd of zebra trudged over the horizon and the last turned to look back for any following predators. While to some this may seem fortuitous, I believe it is more a testament to the hours put in in the field to create new work.
Storm | Maasai Mara, Kenya | August 2021
Standard: 48”x31” (Edition of 5) Large: 78”x45” (Edition of 3)
‘Nomads’ also contains another first for me, with ’57’ a panoramic image of an elephant herd created by combining three separate images. This required an immense amount of patience, as combining three images to one, while relatively simple as a technique, is a culmination of hours of trial and error - there were plenty of failures before ’57’.
57 | Amboseli, Kenya | October 2021
Medium: 59”x24” (Edition of 5)*
*Due to the unique dimensions of ‘57’, we will only be offering one size
As ever, I look for my work to explore our relationship with animals, so it is with real pleasure we can include ‘Crescent’, of an Ankole cattle on Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Perhaps no species on this planet highlights our bizarre relationship with nature more than the humble cow, so to see it included along side some truly iconic species is a proud moment.
Cattle of Kings | Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya | August 2021
Standard: 48”x41” (Edition of 5) Large: 60x50” (Edition of 3)
Each of these six images will support David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s holistic conservation approach, with 10% from each print sale bring donated to the organisation.
Being able to give back to conservation is the aspect of my career I am most proud of. Thanks to the generosity of those that have bought prints, or donated to various fundraisers, we have raised close to £50,000 for a variety of organisations in the last two years.
“Will’s new collection, Nomad’s, is varied and hypnotic. It captivates and celebrates some of Africas iconic animals in their natural environment, providing a stunning insight into the lives of these amazing species”
Half Tail | Maasai Mara, Kenya | September 2021
Standard: 40”x25” (Edition of 5) Large: 71”x50” (Edition of 3)
Prints
My work is sold exclusively via London’s Red Eight Gallery. Our Nomads collection comes available in two sizes, ‘standard’ (edition of 5) and ‘large’ (edition of 3). Extra large pieces, and Artist Proofs, are available on request only. More information about individual prints can be found on their dedicated pages (linked above), or to make a general enquiry kindly use the form below.
As ever, our printing and framing process reflects the intense care that goes in to creating the original image. Over the last decade I have used PictureFrames, just a handful of miles from where I grew up, whose museum standard is matched by few in the world.
They can also boast to being the only bespoke framers in the world certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Meaning not only are their frames of the highest standard, their timber based products are also ethically and sustainably sourced, a key component when choosing who to work with in 2022.
Behind the Scenes
Creating ‘Nomads’ took me to some of the most beautiful parts of Kenya. From Borana Conservancy to Amboseli National Park, the video below shows what it took to get the shots in this latest series.
