Simon Combes
Simon Combes was born in Shaftesbury, England, in 1940 and, at the age of six, moved with his family to an 800-acre farm in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. At the age of 19 he was drafted, serving in the Kenya regiment. He then applied for and received a commission in the King’s African Rifles. Combes’ subsequent adventures included fighting in a guerrilla war with Somalia, leading Kenya’s new airborne unit (requiring a visit to Parachute School in England) and promotion to major at the tender age of 24. Of greater significance, perhaps, was the start of a new hobby. During moments of inactivity in the northern desert, Simon began to draw, and eventually paint art, prints and posters of the local nomadic people and the landscape in which they lived.
In 1969, he was persuaded to stage an exhibition of his art, prints and posters in Nairobi’s New Stanley Art Gallery. The show was a near sell-out and an idea about an alternate career began to form in Combes’ mind. Someone made the suggestion that he paint wildlife and the creative seed was sown. In 1974, Combes said farewell to the army, bought a small house on the outskirts of Nairobi, and set up shop as a freelance artist of art, prints and posters.
In the three decades since, he achieved worldwide success, countless commissions and many prestigious awards. He received the Society of Animal Artists’ Award of Excellence. He was chosen “Artist of the Year” for the 1994 Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show. The success of his art, prints and posters has aided Combes as he seeks to raise awareness of wildlife conservation; he has made contributions and served on the councils of several conservation organizations. Combes is the author and artist of two critically acclaimed books Great Cats and An African Experience.
On Sunday, December 12, 2004, atop a beautiful ancient volcano near his home in Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Simon’s life was tragically taken by one of the wild animals he so lovingly portrayed in his paintings. He never “gathered moss” and now he has come home.
In 1969, he was persuaded to stage an exhibition of his art, prints and posters in Nairobi’s New Stanley Art Gallery. The show was a near sell-out and an idea about an alternate career began to form in Combes’ mind. Someone made the suggestion that he paint wildlife and the creative seed was sown. In 1974, Combes said farewell to the army, bought a small house on the outskirts of Nairobi, and set up shop as a freelance artist of art, prints and posters.
In the three decades since, he achieved worldwide success, countless commissions and many prestigious awards. He received the Society of Animal Artists’ Award of Excellence. He was chosen “Artist of the Year” for the 1994 Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show. The success of his art, prints and posters has aided Combes as he seeks to raise awareness of wildlife conservation; he has made contributions and served on the councils of several conservation organizations. Combes is the author and artist of two critically acclaimed books Great Cats and An African Experience.
On Sunday, December 12, 2004, atop a beautiful ancient volcano near his home in Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Simon’s life was tragically taken by one of the wild animals he so lovingly portrayed in his paintings. He never “gathered moss” and now he has come home.

The Hypnotist
21.5" x 17.5"
Limited Edition 52/1250
Was: $335 - Now 25% Off!
New Price: $250 CAD
"The inspiration for this painting came from a pair of amber-coloured eyes staring at me through dry, bleached, sunlit grass. The owner of the eyes was alert but not alarmed, telling me by expression alone that I was fine where I was, but to come no nearer.
The composition evolved outwards from the eyes, the calm but cautious face framed by a huge, shaggy mane... I introduced the lioness, half hidden in the dark undergrowth behind, in order to add some justification for the expression of mild warning on his face. Finally, to make his presence more imposing, I placed him on top of a high bank, looking down on mere mortals like myself. Wherever I stood, the eyes watched me…so I called him "The Hypnotist." - Simon Combes
21.5" x 17.5"
Limited Edition 52/1250
Was: $335 - Now 25% Off!
New Price: $250 CAD
"The inspiration for this painting came from a pair of amber-coloured eyes staring at me through dry, bleached, sunlit grass. The owner of the eyes was alert but not alarmed, telling me by expression alone that I was fine where I was, but to come no nearer.
The composition evolved outwards from the eyes, the calm but cautious face framed by a huge, shaggy mane... I introduced the lioness, half hidden in the dark undergrowth behind, in order to add some justification for the expression of mild warning on his face. Finally, to make his presence more imposing, I placed him on top of a high bank, looking down on mere mortals like myself. Wherever I stood, the eyes watched me…so I called him "The Hypnotist." - Simon Combes

Midday Sun
11 1/2" x 15 3/4"
Limited Edition 804/850
Was: $390 - Now 25% Off!
New Price: $290 CAD
"September and the Serengeti Plains. Months without rain and the sun beating down relentlessly day after day until the grass turns white and yellow and dry as tinder. The previous year, rain poured down and great herds of wildebeests invaded the plains to eat the fresh grass. Perhaps stimulated by such overabundance of food, the lion population had grown.
Now the herds have moved on, leaving behind the hungry predators and their young to endure the drought. The lioness and her two surviving cubs rest and pant in the midday heat, giving empathetic meaning to the phrase, "only the strong survive." - Simon Combes
11 1/2" x 15 3/4"
Limited Edition 804/850
Was: $390 - Now 25% Off!
New Price: $290 CAD
"September and the Serengeti Plains. Months without rain and the sun beating down relentlessly day after day until the grass turns white and yellow and dry as tinder. The previous year, rain poured down and great herds of wildebeests invaded the plains to eat the fresh grass. Perhaps stimulated by such overabundance of food, the lion population had grown.
Now the herds have moved on, leaving behind the hungry predators and their young to endure the drought. The lioness and her two surviving cubs rest and pant in the midday heat, giving empathetic meaning to the phrase, "only the strong survive." - Simon Combes