Edward Waites' Walking Lion reflects his enduring fascination with the strength, character and physical presence of the animal kingdom. Born in Suffolk in 1988 and raised in Newmarket, the historic centre of British horse racing, Waites developed an early appreciation for animal anatomy and movement. While his earliest sculptural studies focused on the human figure, his practice soon expanded to encompass wildlife, particularly the great mammals and predators of the African plains.

The lion has occupied an important place in the history of European animal sculpture, particularly during the nineteenth century, when artists such as Antoine-Louis Barye elevated the depiction of wild animals into an independent sculptural tradition. In Walking Lion, Waites continues this fascination, capturing the quiet authority and natural confidence of one of Africa's most formidable predators. Entirely self-taught, Waites models directly in clay before his sculptures are cast in bronze using the traditional lost-wax process. His expressive approach deliberately preserves the marks of the sculptor's hand, bringing immediacy and individuality to each work. His sculptures are represented in distinguished collections internationally, including several royal collections.