Because of the enormous debt which he believes he owes to wildlife for what it has done for him, he is known internationally as a leading conservationist. His paintings have raised over two and a half million pounds for this cause through the David Shepherd Conservation Foundation.

David Shepherd’s paintings, in addition to his wildlife themes, have also famously illustrated a by-gone age in England through portrait and landscape and have in addition reflected his passion for the steam locomotive. Indeed, at any one time he may be laying on his back scraping the underneath of a steam engine at his beloved East Somerset Railway and next he may be painting the Queen Mother’s portrait.