You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

Brian painted animals like no other. With the slightest modification of tone or colour, he gave shape and substance to his subjects. His mark-making is masterly too - instinctive, natural, purposeful. Skills attained over thousands of hours of drawing and painting. To what aim ? For what goal ? To convince, of course. To tell you a story... take you on a journey. And yet, just as it is with any art, the technique, the skill, the prowess dissolve, meaningless, unless emotion appears and whisks you away !

This beautiful painting was originally created for the cover of Python's Party, published in 1974. It was later republished as Jungle Party, and the cover changed. The book contains many extraordinary illustrations of a great variety of animals, all competing for the attention of a double-dealing snake, whose wonderful portrait, wrapped around a tree, is also available as a stunning print.