Perhaps no species personifies our bizarre relationship with animals more than the humble cow. Revered and worshipped by some, eaten by many and worn by others, cattle have been an integral companion for homo sapiens for the last 10,000 years.

Cows, as individuals, have fascinated me since childhood - as they would anyone growing up next to a dairy farm. They are also the species that inspired my journey in to photography as one of my earliest photographs of a highland cow, taken in Scotland, became my first print sale. It is with real pride therefore, that I am able to include this beautiful Ankole in ‘Nomads’.

Known in Africa as 'the cattle of Kings', Ankole cattle (or Ankole-Watsui to give them their full name), are amongst the most valuable on the continent and their ancestors, the Egyptian Long Horned Cattle, are displayed in pictographs inside the Great Pyramids. At least two African presidents are known to keep herds.

Striking in appearance and instantly recognisable, their horns are used to regulate body temperature. Blood circulates through and is cooled by vessels in the horns, before returning to their bodies - an imperative adaptation enabling them to survive the intense heat of East Africa.

My first encounter with these cows was on Ol Pejeta conservancy, a place I have previously created some of my best selling rhino work. Here cattle are an integral part of their conservation success, indeed the conservancy was once a cattle ranch before becoming the world renowned operation it is today.

With my latest collection focussing largely on individual animals, finding the right cow to work with was key. The white markings and stunning symmetry of the horns stood out amongst the herd and the storm clouds provide the perfect backdrop - I rarely work without them these days.

Having made a career out of photographing wildlife, it might seem peculiar to include a cow in this collection but I believe it fully deserves its place. Not only is it one of the most dynamic images I have taken but it is time we all see cows as equal to lion, elephant or rhino. They are after all, all sentient beings.

Standard (5): 48” x 41”

Large (3): 60” x 50”

William is proud to be represented by London’s Red Eight Gallery, where his work hangs along side the likes of Banksy, Damien Hirst and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

With William’s work having sold around the globe, all print sales are handled by the team of professional art advisors and to make an enquiry use the “print enquiry” button below.

10% of the proceeds from William’s print sales are donated to his partnered conservation charities, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and Saving the Wild.

Both these organisations focus on an holistic approach to wildlife protection, ensuring local communities are at the forefront of efforts and decision making.

With William’s style deeply focussed on wildlife in its environment, working with organisations of this calibre and determination is a natural fit and prints are proudly embossed with the logos of the charities they support.

To date William’s work has been used to raise over £45,000 for a variety of charitable organisations.

Having put so much effort in to capturing these images, it is vital the same attention to detail goes in to the printing and framing process.

Over the last decade William has exclusively used Dorset based company, PictureFrames, the only bespoke framing company in the world certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council - meaning all the timber based products used are sustainably sourced.

In that time they have honed their signature pieces to reflect the style of his work. The use of Innova Etching 315 GSM cotton rag paper perfectly highlights the contrast and tones within William’s black and white images, while using Canon Lucia inks ensures the prints last for 80 years, even behind glass.

Once printed, pieces are framed to museum standard with a black ash frame and off white image mount, creating a timeless look for contemporary photography.