James has spent eighteen years in the field, working as a professional guide, wildlife photographer, and bespoke travel planner across five continents.
James is particularly passionate about big cats and the art of tracking, leading trips to the Pantanal for jaguars, Patagonia for pumas, and the Himalayas for snow leopards – where he filmed the first complete sequence of a snow leopard hunting its prey.
His photographs have won international awards and have featured in numerous publications including National Geographic. He is a storyteller and photographer for the Okavango Wilderness project team, who won the National Geographic Explorers of the Year for their 2,400km canoe expedition to protect the Okavango’s headwaters.
“Alongside our origin, this is the most important time in our history to be a human being. We have never had such power to create or destroy, and the future of so many of our fellow animals rests on a knife’s edge. The images we see of the current state of our planet, while important, can often leave people with a dangerous sense of futility and despair.
There is so much wilderness left to protect, and this can only be achieved if we believe it can be. I am honoured to be a part of a young and dynamic team of ambassadors supporting a conservation initiative that not only actively protects wildlife but does so through the celebration of its beauty”.
James’s images portray wildlife as totems within the realm of their kingdom, a palette of awe, fragility, reverence, and mysticism. He works together with the animals to create photographs with deep respect and sensitivity. Though he does print in colour, his preference is the timelessness of black and white printed on museum quality archival paper.
DSWF’s roots are in wildlife art and we are fortunate enough to have some of the most talented wildlife artists as our Wildlife Art Ambassadors. Learn more about these committed conservationists here.
Visit our website shop to browse every kind of wildlife art. From David Shepherd originals and prints, to outstanding artworks by Wildlife Artist of the Year finalists. These pieces are a true celebration of the world’s wildlife and wild places.
As the founder of DSWF, David dedicated his life to raising awareness and funding for wildlife conservation efforts. Using his incredible artistic skills, David was able to inspire change and make a positive impact on the preservation of endangered species. Find out more.
