About the work

Half Tail, one of the most famous male lions in the Mara, taking a rest from patrolling his territory.

After recently losing his coalition partner, Logol, he is now the sole leader of the Marsh Pride which makes it a very uncertain time for him as he tries to maintain control of the the Pride. Prior to losing Logol he would spend an irresponsible amount of time away from the pride, but in recent days he has been spending much more time closer to home so he can use the three other young males in the pride as added security for keeping an eye on any encroaching males.

Half Tail has a reputation for being very grumpy, and very powerful. When a lion like that stares directly at you, you feel it right to your core.

"This artwork is available in a variety of sizes from 39cm x 26cm up to 114cm x 76cm as a limited edition of 50. There are also just 5 'Artist Editions' available in any size over 114cm x 76cm. Framing available on request. All prints come signed and numbered with a certificate of authenticity.”

This photograph is part of the ‘Individuals’ collection, from Matthew’s solo exhibition in London. The ‘Individuals’ collection focuses on telling the stories of the animals Matthew has spent time with in the Maasai Mara. Each character has their own personal story, unique history, and uncertain future. They have distinctive personalities, close bonds, feared enemies, and emotions as strong as your own. Visiting the same individuals every single day, Matthew gets to know his subjects on a deeply personal level. By highlighting these personal stories, showing animals to be emotional individuals rather than just an anonymous statistic in a wider population, Matthew hopes to promote a desire to protect and care for this precious wildlife.