Cheetah Family in Nairobi National Park Painting

In Nairobi National Park with friends a few years ago, we came across this large family of Cheetahs sheltering from the midday sun beneath an acacia tree. It was such a rare and peaceful scene that I took a photograph and hoped I'd be able to paint them some day. Even my friends, who live in Kenya, said how lucky we were to see them. I have tried to capture the hot golden light and the grace of the cheetahs. One of the youngsters is fast asleep on the ground and the adults are keeping a lazy eye open for potential prey or threats. I chose to paint them in watercolour for its transparency and light - the perfect medium to capture the atmosphere of the African bush.