The Golden Era of Safari Re-imagined by American Artist - Nicholas Coleman

The spirit of safari has long resided within the walls here at Westley Richards. From 1812, when cartographers simply left huge blank areas in maps of the African continent, through the hot century of colonial expansion, exploration and wars of conquest, to the last gasp of the British colonies in the post-war era, Westley Richards guns and rifles featured prominently.

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Today, all those years of experience and custom have combined to help create a timeless collection of safari clothing and accessories. Westley Richards today is the outfitter of choice for the sportsman who demands style and quality before all else.

To showcase our refined collection of classic safari wear, Westley Richards has collaborated with American artist Nicholas Coleman to feature staples from the collection in scenes evocative of the golden era which inspired them.

'The Confrontation' by Nicholas Coleman - $16,000

Nicholas, of Provo, Utah grew up the son of famed Western American artist Michael Coleman. He has exhibited across the United States and his work hangs in museums and private collections from Tokyo to the Tirol.

His recent work ‘Dusk on the Lower Salt River' won the Spirit of the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale Award.

Nicholas alongside a painting he owns by famed artist Wilhelm Kuhnert. "He died in 1926 but remains a big inspiration for me."

Nick’s inspiration has long been the wide-open spaces and untamed wilds of rural America. Coupled with a love of the stories of the emergence of the United States as a nation through the exploits of early settlers and adventurers and a reverence for the humans and animals that feature in those tales of the old West.

His remarkable art-work features landscapes, portraits and still life scenes from the re-imagined past of his country’s folklore. Native American warriors on horseback, prospectors, explorers, cowboys and hunters and their prey all feature in his work, which is an elk-song to the past.

Nicholas as a young man on safari with his father, celebrated artist Michael Coleman.

For this collaboration, Nick has been turning his focus to Africa and safari stories and scenes, dressing the protagonists in Westley Richards safari attire and showing hunters, animals and garments in action, in a variety of settings.

'Back In Camp' by Nicholas Coleman - $14,000

He has already explored African subjects, being inspired by the exploits of President Theodore Roosevelt and chronicled in ‘African Game Trails’.

“I want the work to show the adventure, the clothes, the bags, the rifles: the paintings could be from a hundred years ago; there is a timeless feel to them, which suits my work.”

Nick also thought it important to include in the collection the animals that form the focus of a safari. His education in the physical proportions and musculature of various animals is enhanced by his field work and the close examination of real specimens.

This new venture, blending our latest collection with the vision of a young, talented artist, whose unique mind’s eye creates a visual narrative through a series of evocative paintings, shows Westley Richards apparel through a different lens.

Nicholas standing between a record pair of tusks on a visit to the Westley Richards factory and flagship to meet Simon Clode.

The collaboration has been the inspiration for around fifteen paintings, which are in Nick’s preferred medium of oil. He describes them as “Sideways ideas based on the themes we discussed, like after the hunt or on the hunt.”

We are very excited at the prospect of the Westley Richards inspired artworks that will be emerging from Nick’s Utah studios in the months to come and we shall be sure to share them with readers as they do.

'After The Hunt' by Nicholas Coleman - $12,500

All of Nicholas' artworks from the collaboration with Westley Richards are available to purchase through our Sporting Art page.

Alongside its custom rifles, luxury travel bags and high quality country clothing, the modern Westley Richards continues a 200-year tradition of outfitting hunters and adventurers for the rigours of outdoor life. With an unrivalled heritage of safari wear, the company produces a range of luxury safari clothes for the ultimate safari packing list. Inspired by former clients Ernest Hemingway and Stewart Granger each safari jacket, hunting shirt and cargo trouser reflects Westley Richards ethos of timeless style and exceptional quality. Pair a rugged safari shirt and safari shorts with some world famous Courteney boots and a classic safari hat.