Evening Leopard Prowl, Pench, India was inspired by John Dyer’s encounters with the wildlife of Pench during his Last Chance to Paint – Land of the Tiger expedition.
At the centre of the painting, a leopard moves quietly through the dry tropical forest, inspired by an encounter John had while on safari. Around it, sambar deer stand among the trees, a grey langur watches from the forest floor and black drongos perch high in the branches.
The painting is filled with the distinctive colours of Pench at the end of the day. Many of the trees are teak, and their warm reds, oranges and pinks glow against violets, blues and greens as the evening light deepens and the forest changes character.
John deliberately allows the animals and the forest to visually merge. The leopard’s coat echoes the marks and shadows of the woodland floor, while the vertical rhythm of the trees surrounds and absorbs the wildlife. No animal is presented as separate from its surroundings.
This idea of coexistence lies at the heart of the painting. The leopard, deer, langur, birds, grasses and trees are all part of the same living system. Together they create the forest.
Pench is also closely associated with the landscape that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, giving the painting another layer of connection to India’s legendary jungle landscape.
With its glowing teak trees, rich complementary colours and quietly prowling leopard, this original wildlife painting captures the extraordinary atmosphere of Pench as daylight fades and the forest moves towards night.
Item Information
| Description |
Framed Original Painting |
| Artist |
Cornish Artist John Dyer (born 1968) |
| Signed by the Artist |
Signed by John Dyer |
| Painting size |
12 x 12 inches |
| Medium |
Acrylic on canvas |
| Framed size |
17.5 x 17.5 inches |
| Frame type |
The St Ives style picture frame is a Renaissance-inspired cassetta frame, Italian for 'little box', featuring a white stain finish that highlights the wood grain. With a 73mm wide profile and 39mm depth, it creates a recessed central panel, perfect for a timeless, contemporary and elegant display of the painting. |
| Ready to hang |
Strung with picture cord and ready to hang |
Explore the Indian Summer collection.