Tom Shepherd

Tom Shepherd

Specialities
Watercolour, wildlife, shape and tone, colour, brushstrokes and splashes

Favourite destination
Kenya, Zambia and Wales!

Favourite medium
Watercolour

"The free flowing and immediate nature of watercolour seems to lend itself so well to capturing the fleeting moments of wildlife; along with their movement, character and colours"

Tom joined Art Safari in 2024 where he lead his first art holiday in Zambia, alongside Art Safari’s director Mary-Anne Bartlett. This exciting destination is a wonderful place to learn about painting wildlife from life and returns again in 2025 for more sketching of our favourite African wildlife in South Luangwa National Park! Large, grey and unmistakable – Zambia 2025

Tom Shepherd is a highly regarded artist with a big friendly smile and a passion for teaching.

His exuberant paintings capture a great vivacity through their bold colour palettes and expressive brushwork. His animals don’t sit still! Tom’s ability to capture the character and presence of an animal is a happy mix, making both his paintings and his tuition a fun and insightful experience.

As a surfer with a geography degree, Tom longed to give free rein to his creative instinct. He started by using graffiti pens to draw bright and colourful custom artwork on guitars, but the infinite variety of subjects, and the endless possibilities of other mediums was always beckoning him.

Subsequently daring to pick up a brush, his encounter with more traditional mediums, like oil and acrylic, opened a world of imaginative inspiration. He hasn’t looked back since. For the last ten years, Tom has flourished as a professional artist.

Whilst he loves painting a wide variety of subjects, especially if the fall of light is exciting, Tom frequently returns to where is first two passions: painting wildlife, in particular birds. His artistic skill reflects in his dynamic and fluid watercolour pieces that capture these fleeting moments with grace.

His creations have gained acclaim both in the UK and globally, earning him accolades in the esteemed Wildlife Artist of the Year competition. Beyond his artistic prowess, Tom’s heart beats for conservation. He supports wildlife causes through exhibitions and contributes a portion of his sales to organizations like WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust); and to date has raised multiple thousands of pounds for these causes.

Tom is a highly sought-after tutor, conducting workshops and demonstrations across the UK. His journey exemplifies how art can intertwine with nature, emotions, and advocacy, leaving an indelible mark on both canvas and conscience. He finds real joy in sharing his knowledge and helping others on their own artistic journey. For him it is an important part of being an artist, “as none of us could be here without those who came before us pathing the way and sharing their knowledge.”

Join an Art Safari holiday soon.