King of the Plains

"The lion is the largest cat of the African Plains. It is magnificent with its prominent mane, acting as a crown, it is a symbol of power and courage. I worked closely with Project Life Lion for many years. This is a vaccination programme to stop the spread of diseases from wild dogs. Whilst working with them I went on many field trips in Kenya, and saw lions in their natural habitat."

Steve’s art is the result of years of experimentation for the former painter, who has previously sold his work in Harrods and Selfridges. Using his innate understanding of engineering and design, he incorporates inspirations from his travels to India, Peru, Kenya and Australia.

Each of his animals is hand-finished and patinated by himself, with the self-taught sculptor creating them in his sprawling nine-room studio in Yorkshire. To develop his skills, he delved into the closely-guarded secrets of foundrymen to master mould-making skills and the manipulation of molten bronze.

He says: “The chemicals and heat bring the sculptures to life. Having worked so closely with wildlife on conservation projects, I wanted to capture this ‘essence’ in my art.” Discover artwork by Steve Winterburn here.