LEON FOUCHÉ | 1ST PLACE
2025 ALL ANIMALS COMPETITION

Leon Fouché is an award-winning wildlife artist from South Africa. His ultra-realistic artwork captures the natural beauty found in game reserves near his home where he encounters Africa’s most awe-inspiring and iconic creatures.

As a pastelist, photographer, and passionate conservationist, Fouché is committed to protecting endangered species and the environment. He frequently donates his artwork and proceeds to wildlife conservation projects.

Over the course of his career, Fouché has garnered many awards, exhibited widely, and has artwork in corporate and private collections worldwide. Recently, we had a conversation with him about his art.

How did you get started in art?

I’ve loved drawing since childhood, mostly with pencil, though I never took art as a subject in school. My mother, Ingrid, is also a wildlife artist so I had access to her soft pastels at home. I held my first exhibition alongside my mother’s work, and after a successful show, I decided to pursue art as a career. I’ve stayed with pastels ever since because I find them easy to use, especially for drawing feathers and fur.

What inspired you to create “Florida Panther?”

My “Ghosts of the Glades” piece was commissioned by a Florida-based conservationist dedicated to preserving land for wildlife to thrive in. Inspired by the endangered Florida panther and the now extremely rare ghost orchid, I placed the panther in a dense swamp scene with cypress trees where the orchids are found. It’s an artwork I’m especially proud of.

You take your own reference photos. Do you alter elements of a photograph to create a painting?

I photograph animals, birds, branches, leaves, rocks, and scenes to use in future drawings. I often adjust composition, lighten shadows, and enhance warmth, while blurring backgrounds to keep the focus on the subject. Each painting I do is usually a combination of elements taken from a few photos, unless the photo of the subject is already perfect — which isn’t often.

All artwork © Leon Fouché, shared with permission.