IT'S not that unusual to hear of people having near-death experiences — but it is surely rare that they involve being charged by a hippo while in a canoe in Zambia.

Leading African wildlife artist Steve Burgess, from Tiverton, is renowned for his attention to detail in paintings, but even he admits the encounter was much closer than he would have preferred.

But, as in all the best adventure stories, Steve and his guide miraculously scrambled away to safety and he continued taking the photographs that inspire his work.

It would have been quite understandable if the 49-year-old suddenly developed an interest in still-life studies, but Steve doesn't seem to be capable of living a dull life.

Before becoming a professional wildlife artist 12 years ago, Steve enjoyed varied careers in the RAF and the police force — both were inspired by his upbringing.

Despite showing an aptitude for art at school, Bristol-born Steve was convinced only the select few could ever make a career out of it and so he joined the Royal Air Force as a ground photographer.

His next adventure was to sign up for the police and it was another eight years before he finally turned his passion into his vocation.

"At that point I decided that fur and feathers would be too difficult to paint so I stayed clear of it and did landscapes and aviation work," Steve admits.

"Then, one day, I saw a picture of a cheetah and cubs that I personally didn't think was particularly good, but all editions of it had sold out. I thought I could do at least as well, so I started off painting a couple of tigers which got a good reaction.

"I enjoyed painting animals but it was obvious they were captive animals — they looked too well fed and their fur was too coarse and thick. I realised I would have to see them in their own habitat."

Steve embarked on his first African adventure in 2000 and has since earned himself a place as one of the most respected artists specialising in African wildlife subjects and members of indigenous tribes.

Steve works almost exclusively in oil paints on gesso primed panels, but he is entirely self-taught.

Steve, now head of wildlife painting at the Devon School of Art, recalled: "When I was at school, my art teacher actually told my parents they should persuade me not to go to art college or I would get stereotyped. I think that's perhaps why my paintings stand apart from other people. I've just learnt as I've gone along and you never stop learning."

At first Steve sold his work through galleries, but now he prefers to work alongside wildlife conservation organisations to make sure his paintings directly benefit the natural world.

Steve said: "When I exhibited in London galleries, my work was more or less sold out from the catalogue, even before the exhibition had opened. But it was not a great money maker for me because the gallery bought them from me at an agreed price and then sold them for vastly more.

"For instance, I was paid £4,000 for a painting which they would then sell for £25-£30,000. That's one reason I decided to come away from galleries. Not only did I want to make more money — none of it was going back into conservation.

"When you visit Africa you see how difficult it is becoming for animals to survive in their natural habitat. I am also trying to work with organisations that support indigenous peoples."

In 2003, Steve was juried into the American Society of Animal Artists, and the following year was invited to join the Worldwide Nature Artists Group whose worldwide membership is just 500.

Although he might be based in Tiverton, his thoughts are never far from Africa and the Masai friends who have bestowed Steve with the honour of a Masai name, Olaishorani, meaning one who paints and draws pictures. His favourite destination is Masai Mara National Park.

"A lot of it is open land so you can see animals from a long way away," he explains. "Each time I've been there I have found a leopard, which are most elusive.

"It's amazing to be sat there in your vehicle with a pride of lions a few feet away. The only thing you've got to be wary of is not sticking your arms or legs out because while you're inside the vehicle they apparently see you as part of the vehicle.

"The last time I went out there I took about 3,000 photographs which I downloaded onto my computer when I got back and narrowed down to about 1,000 I could use for a painting."

What gives Steve's work an edge is the lengths he will go to in order to get inspiration for his paintings. As well as his infamous hippopotamus incident two years ago, there have been other hairy encounters with nature.

Steve recalls: "I've also been charged at by big male elephants and a black rhino once missed us by inches. It can be exciting!

"I'm often asked what my favourite animal is and I suppose I normally end up painting more pictures of lions than anything else. I just feel quite an affinity with them.

"I would love to paint a polar bear and raise awareness of their plight."

Steve is currently working on a painting of a stag which he observed during the filming of a new Monty Hall TV series to be screened next March.

And he's planning a return trip to Africa next October to get pictures of the wildebeest migration.

You might expect some of these magical wildlife moments to be high up on his list of special moments. Or maybe when one of his works was presented to former US president Bill Clinton. However, being a bit of a thrill-seeker, Steve immediately recalls a commission of a very different kind when he was asked by an old school friend turned commanding officer in the RAF to do an aviation painting. His payment was a flight in a Tornado fighter jet.

"I enjoyed every minute of it," enthused Steve.

"It was a bit testing on my ear drums, though! We went from 330ft to just over 20,000ft in around 18 seconds. It really was a money-can't-buy experience."