Simon Combes African Wildlife Artist 1940 - 2004.
In 1940, African wildlife artist Simon Combes was born in “Wilderness Cottage,” in Shaftsbury,
England, and from that day in June, the wilderness always attracted him. His
first adventures began early when, in 1946, his parents immigrated to farm in
Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, a magical place for a young boy. Read moreSimon Combes African Wildlife Artist 1940 - 2004.
In 1940, African wildlife artist Simon Combes was born in “Wilderness Cottage,” in Shaftsbury,
England, and from that day in June, the wilderness always attracted him. His
first adventures began early when, in 1946, his parents immigrated to farm in
Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, a magical place for a young boy.
Simon loathed his years at boarding school in Nakuru and at Duke of York in
Nairobi, always longing for the freedom of the bush. While managing a 2,000
acre farm when he was seventeen, he was drafted into six months compulsory
military training after already applying for appointment in the Kings African
Rifles. He was accepted into 4 KAR but having just finished his training was
sent to Uganda where one of his duties was to teach basic etiquette and rugby
to a young Idi Amin. He attended Sandhurst Military Academy and returned to
Kenya to join the 3rd Kings African Rifles in time for Kenya’s Independence.
In 1964, Simon was chosen to form and command Kenya’s elite Parachute
Regiment. This involved training the first 250 paratroopers in England, and
translating all the instruction books into Swahili. Their first posting back
in Kenya was fighting the Shifta war in the North Eastern province. It was
during this time Simon started to draw and paint as a hobby to occupy his
spare time. His subjects were the Somali and Boran people and the landscapes
of the North. In 1969, he held his first exhibition in Nairobi which was a
sell-out on the opening night. It was then that the idea of painting full-time
started. However, he was refused release from the army and was moved to army
HQ as staff officer in charge of all operations and training. He was also
captain of the army shooting team and vice chairman to the Kenya Rifle
Association. A Major at 28 and performing the duties of a Lieutenant Colonel,
his military peers remember him fondly as a “True Kenyan.” Finally, in 1974,
he was released from the army and started life as a professional artist. Best
known for his stunning images wildlife in the African bush, Artist Simon Combes achieved
worldwide success and acclamation through many prestigious awards. His
paintings hang in private and museum collections around the globe.
Simon’s life was rich with great adventures and wildlife encounters.
From being lost in a blizzard while crossing the Altai Mountains in Mongolia
and flying into the jungles of Venezuela to sketching Bengal Tigers atop a
howdah on a swaying elephant in India, his experiences and observations led
him to develop his exacting artistic style, rendering his subjects with such
depth and exquisite detail. Africa & Beyond: The Art and Adventures of Simon
Combes, a retrospective exhibition of Simon’s major works, was held at The
Wildlife Experience Museum in 2004 to celebrate his great artistic
achievements.
Since 1979, The Greenwich Workshop, Inc., has published his works as
Fine Art Reproductions on paper and canvas. He always said, if given the time
he would rather write than paint. This talent is apparent in his books An
African Experience, distributed by The Greenwich Workshop and Great Cats,
published by The Greenwich Workshop, Inc. Simon was also working on a book of
Limericks about life in Kenya which reveals his ability to entertain us with
his wit and humor.
Simon had a wonderful talent for communication, whether in speech,
writing or painting. Never self assuming, he gave talks in Kiswahili to the
farm staff, through a translator to school children in Russia and also to many
interested groups around the world.
Not only a man of the arts, but an avid conservationist as well, Simon
had recently appointed Kenya Representative and Project Director for Rhino
Rescue Trust. He sat on the boards of several wildlife conservation
organizations and raised, through his art, many thousands of dollars for their
causes.
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. He is survived by his wife
Kat, his children, Cindy and Guy, his sister, Jenny all of Kenya and his
former wife Susie of England. We shall remember Artist Simon Combes well.
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