Artist and conservationist Andrew Bone captures the wildlife and landscapes of his native Africa in his exciting, photo-realistic artwork. Bone was born in Mutorashanga, Zimbabwe in 1957. It was during his studies at Falcon College – a bush school for boys aged 12-18 in Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) – that his deep love and respect for African wildlife began.

After graduation, Bone completed a mandatory assignment in the National Service, fighting in the Rhodesian war. It was during his service that he was first introduced to Zimbabwe's Zambezi Valley, which would become an integral part of his life. The valley is home to many species of animal, including lions, elephants, hippopotamus, impala, zebra and buffalo. When a friend established a canoeing company in the valley, Bone became a guide, helping visitors explore and experience all that the valley had to offer. During his time here he studied and photographed his surroundings endlessly.

Upon marrying his sweetheart and fellow nature-lover, Kelly, in 1986, Bone relocated to the Imire Game Ranch, also in Zimbabwe. It was here that Bone began to paint, using the creatures that surrounded him as inspiration. His work became popular with local art galleries, and he soon became an artist full-time, dedicating his free time to wildlife conservation and fundraising.

Andrew Bone's artwork captures his immense respect and awe for the animals of Africa, as well as their natural beauty and majesty. Bone has not been without his share of close calls, from near-misses with powerful lions to charging elephants. “Don’t paint it unless you’ve studied it, been chased by it, or done something to save it,” Bone has said. His work is collected by art and animal lovers around the world. An upcoming book by the artist, Brush Strokes of Africa, will include heartwarming and amusing anecdotes from his journey through life, along with numerous reproductions of his oil paintings and sketches.