The artist Richard Symonds was born in 1969 Surrey, England. On leaving school he worked extensively around the Middle East and North America for the military before returning to his Surrey home to develop his skills in a completely different field, Art and Conservation and wildlife art.<BR> <BR> Entirely self taught and pursuing a string of commissions including amongst others, Harley – Davidson, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC, Richard Symonds decided to concentrate solely on painting and drawing wild animals in their natural habitat, his wildlife art .<BR> <BR> Following his continuous passion and love of wildlife, Richard Symonds soon found himself on safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara and Amboseli National Parks along with game parks throughout South Africa where pursuing his art, he painted much wildlife art. The painter Richard Symonds has held a number of art exhibitions and art auctions in and around London, including Harrods, S.B.C Warburg Dillon and Read, Henley Fine Arts, Christie’s, Sotheby’s and exhibition and fundraising evening for the “David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation” at Lloyd’s in the City of London.<BR> <BR> Conservation is also a passion of Richard Symonds and through the sale and auction of his original paintings and prints, he has helped raise many thousands of pounds to date for his two chosen Wildlife Charities, The Born Free Foundation and The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.<BR> <BR> His work - wildlife paintings, wildlife drawings - can also be found in private and corporate collections throughout the world including New York, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Russia and Hong Kong Poland. Richard’s enthusiasm and commitment to wildlife is vividly illustrated in his work, and through his painting and drawing of wildlife, Richard Symonds has a rare ability to capture the true essence of each animal he paints. As an artist, his art is focused on wildlife from Africa. Richard Symonds has visited game reserves in pursuit of his interest in wildlife art.