Search results for ""batsford""

A poignant description of one of Europe's most well known war cemeteries. Based on interviews and personal experiences, this work includes images, including photographs by Corporal Eric Gunton of Number 32 Graves Registration Unit, who photographed the cemetery as it took shape. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British and French history, heritage and travel.

Read more less

This stunningly illustrated guide explores the history and mystery of these two sites, as well as looking at the rituals that survive today. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

Read more less

Influential ceramics company People Will Always Need Plates bring you notecards depicting four stunning Brutalist architectural gems. These outstanding graphic illustrations of London buildings with their clean lines and bold blocks of colour have been used by the company on a successful range of plates, mugs and other objects which are fast becoming British design icons.

Read more less

Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived. For over four centuries, popular imagination has been gripped by the story of King Henry VIII and his six wives - and by the tangled web of passion and intrigue that lies behind it. Henry's desperate hope for a son, a male heir for the throne of England, drove him until his death. This attractive guide looks at the King, each of his wives and the background of religious change that surrounds their stories. From Henry's first marriage to his brother's widow Catherine of Aragon until the end of his life with Catherine Parr and three heirs, this guide tells these stories with fascinating facts, artworks, illustrations and colour photographs. Perfect for students of history and anyone with an interest in one of England's most famous monarchs and his six wives. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

Read more less

On 6 June the greatest landing force ever assembled began the Allied Liberation of France and Europe. In this German translation of the Pitkin Guide, enhanced with many contemporary photographs and maps, visitors and veterans can visit the beaches, landmarks, museums and cemeteries of Normandy. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

Read more less

There are more languages available for this title: French, English For many, the name of Ypres invokes some of our most poignant poetry, written by soldiers at the front line. Reminders of the horrors and heroism of a terrible war await the visitor, but also the pleasures of discovering the richness of a heritage that stretches back over 800 years. Ypres in War and Peace provides not only a guide to events and memorials of the First World War, but also a revealing introduction to the fascination of an ancient and modern city - an ideal souvenir to take home. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British and European history, heritage and travel.

Read more less

The area around Hoyland is very special indeed. Developed over 1,000 years, it is a microcosm of agricultural, architectural and industrial development, whose historical significance is without equal. Some of the buildings found here are of a quality which can be found nowhere else in England. This delightful collection by local historian Geoffrey Howse, whose great-grandparent’s shop gave Elsecar the name ‘Howse’s Corner’, includes many rare antique photographs of the area, each set alongside an image of the same view today. Deeply nostalgic and meticulously researched, it will delight residents and visitors alike.

Read more less

Contrasting a selection of 45 archive images alongside full-colour modern photographs, this book traces some of the changes and developments that have taken place in Ealing during the last century. Accompanied by detailed and informative captions, these intriguing photographs reveal changing modes of fashion and transportation, shops and businesses, houses and public buildings, and, of course, some of the local people who once lived and worked in the area. Ealing Then & Now will delight all local historians and will awaken nostalgic memories for all who know this London Borough.

Read more less

Just how much has changed in Chippenham over the decades is clear when you consider that Edward Hutton described 1920s Chippenham as ‘one of the sleepiest places in England’. Today, the busy cattle traders in the Market Place of the 1890s and Chippenham’s tiny 1930s cottage hospital on London Road have now disappeared, but the town’s thriving population is at its highest-ever level, its beautiful historic buildings are more in demand than ever, and new industries, buildings and roads are appearing all the time. In this fascinating book, local historian Mike Stone compares archive images of Chippenham with modern photographs of the same scenes today, chronicling the changing appearance of the town and unveiling a wealth of historic detail and nostalgic memories sure to captivate local residents and history enthusiasts alike.

Read more less

Contrasting a selection of 45 archive images alongside full-colour modern photographs, this book traces some of the changes and developments that have taken place in the historic town of Thatcham during the last century. Accompanied by detailed and informative captions, these intriguing photographs reveal changing modes of fashion and transportation, shops and businesses, houses and public buildings, and, of course, some of the local people who once lived and worked in the area. Thatcham Then & Now will delight all local historians and will awaken nostalgic memories for all who know this Berkshire town.

Read more less

This fascinating book explores the transformations that have seen Bournemouth develop from a small seaside town into a major South Coast resort and bustling centre of commerce. Beautiful archive images are skilfully contrasted with modern photographs taken from the same vantage point today, and show how Bournemouth has changed – as well as the familiar landmarks that have remained. From the gardens as they originally appeared, freshly laid out with a large fountain where the balloon now stands, to the East Cliff Lift, the Cloisters, the model boats once sailed at Children’s Corner and the peaceful surroundings of the ‘Invalids Walk’, Bournemouth Then & Now will rekindle fond memories for many people, and will delight residents and visitors alike.

Read more less

London is a city of enormous beauty, a dynamic, ever-evolving cityscape built up over hundreds of years of architectural evolution. However, amidst this riot of growth and splendour some truly iconic sights may be found, landmarks which been drawing tourists by the thousands since before the days of Queen Victoria. This stunning collection, collated by professional photographer Laina Watt, compares 40 rare archive images of Central London’s most iconic views and landmarks – including the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Trafalgar Square – with modern images of the capital. In full colour, and drawing on only the finest images, it will delight visitors, residents and historians alike.

Read more less

Every chessplayer who aspires to achieve chess mastery must learn the techniques for winning a won game. It is the perennial problem which confronts players at all levels of play. This book will enable chessplayers to better recognize their positional advantages and the ways in which these can be used in order to bring them closer to victory. It also provides many instructive examples of using this knowledge to reach a faster and more spectacular victory. Mr. Paul M. Albert, Jr. has been donating over $2000 per year to the most brilliantly played at both the Women's and Men's United States Championships for over 20 years. This book presents, describes and illustrates the most significant examples, with emphasis on what can be learned from them in terms of winning a won game.

Read more less

A practical guide to learn painting in oils, with simple exercises and step-by-step demonstrations. Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us and the techniques of oil painting can be picked up faster than you think. And, as mistakes can be corrected much more easily in oils than any other painting medium, it is the ideal medium for beginners. In this concise book, Hazel Soan explains everything you need to know about oils in an accessible way. She advises on the materials you need (keeping things to a minimum), how to mix colours, basic brush techniques and how to use a palette knife. The subjects covered range from still life, flowers, animals, landscapes, figures and portraits. Filled with easy-to-follow exercises and demonstrations, this is a practical and helpful guide to learning to paint in oils very quickly.

Read more less

A modern take on the classic Gulliver's Travels in the form of a colouring book. In Gulliver's New Travels, illustrator James Gulliver Hancock brings together his obsessions with re-imagining the world and travelling with his attention to scale and detail. The result is a creative colouring book inspired by Swift's 18th-century classic, featuring different worlds and playing with scale as in the lands of teeny Lilliput and giant Brobdingnag. There is a whole imaginary world to colour in. Taking in places from around the world, from all landscapes, and even future worlds and those in galaxies far away, the illustrations are playful and fanciful but always wonderful to look at. You are encouraged to engage with the drawings and make them your own whether you are using pencils or pens. As you colour in, you’ll discover great little details you hadn’t spotted before, such as the diver swimming through the flowers and the tiny climber scaling a cactus. A must have for anyone with a passion for colouring in and illustration from a major creative talent.

Read more less

A wonderful portable edition of Millie Marotta's Curious Creatures from the the Sunday Times and international bestseller Millie Marotta. Lose yourself in the fascinating world of Millie's Curious Creatures. Millie has researched beasts of all shapes and sizes from all over the world, and illustrated those with amazing survival skills, intriguing behaviours and – of course – beautiful plumage and patterns. Millie’s intricate style of illustration encourages you to make your own mark, whether it's adding colour to a mandarinfish or adding feathers to a kiwi. There's the mimic octopus and the giant squid, the sleepy sloth and the long-eared jerboa, even the otherwordly narwhal – all waiting to be brought alive with glorious colour. Now in a handy pocket size, this book is perfect for anyone looking for a creative outlet or a mindful and relaxing activity on the go.

Read more less

Mindful Calligraphy is a unique and groundbreaking book that fuses the art of calligraphy and mindfulness. Calligraphy has long been known to centre and balance mind and body – concentrating on pen strokes is a good way to tune in positively and live in the moment. And lettering and calligraphy is having a major renaissance as we look for an antidote for our digital age. Progressing from simple movements and shapes to words and phrases, this creative, step-by-step guide helps you to learn how to focus your mind, beat stress, and tune out unwelcome thinking. Tracing the letters helps you stay on the path, always progressing, always centred. Your creation, at the end, is a mini work of art. Organized in progressive and easy-to-follow exercises, Mindful Calligraphy is the perfect guide on this journey towards tranquility and calligraphic beauty.

Read more less

An illuminating look at a controversial architectural style – and its finest examples Post-modernism was the 1980s’ counter to Brutalism but fell out of fashion until its best buildings began to disappear. Now is the time to reassess its values. Historians Geraint Franklin and Elain Harwood discuss its background and key architects before celebrating Britain's finest examples. Individual entries are beautifully illustrated, many with new photography, including the SIS Building made famous by James Bond, John Outram’s awe-inspiring pumping station in London's Docklands and Judge Institute in Cambridge, and the late works of James Stirling and Michael Wilford, including No.1 Poultry – an extraordinary corner of the City that in 2016 became England’s youngest listed building.

Read more less

The revised edition of the classic cycling guide by Harold Briercliffe of 1950. Used as the inspiration for the Britain by Bike television series and a vital part of the award-winning Britain by Bike book by Jane Eastoe, the original book is reproduced along with suggested cycling routes in the Central England region for today's cyclists. Harold Briercliffe was the Alfred Wainwright of cycling and his books provide great insight into cycling in various parts of the UK in the 1940s. Harold's fascinating description of the towns, villages and roads of Britain at the time is a joy for all those who love these isles and especially for cyclists looking for inspiration. Many roads have changed over the decades and are now too busy for enjoyable cycling, so Mark Jarman, along with Sustrans, have made suggestions for alternative routes in the region for today's cyclists. The book includes the original photographs taken by Harold Briercliffe and the original illustrations. The Cycling Touring Guide: Southern England covers cycle routes in the Thames Valley and the Cotswolds, The Isle of Wight, The New Forest, between London and the South Coast, and routes along the South Coast. The cycle routes vary in length from half day and day-long trips to weekend and week-long tours.

Read more less

Cambridge Then and Now is the latest in the long-running series that uncovers archive photos of the landmark sites of a city and re-photographs them from exactly the same viewpoint today. Cambridge Then and Now features vintage photos that date back to the Victorian era, through the twentieth century up until the early 1960s. And while many of the colleges have remained remarkably similar; the cars, the bikes and the fashion on the street has changed a great deal. Cambridge sites include: King’s College, Queen’s College, St.John’s College, Trinity Hall College, Peterhouse, Magadalene College, Pembroke College, Jesus College, Jesus Green, Parker’s Piece, the Mathematical Bridge, Great St. Mary’s Church, the Corn Exchange, the Arts Theatre, Grantchester Rectory and the American Cemetery. 

Read more less

London has over 15 million visitors a year and Love London is an ideal tourist souvenir. This fabulous collection of more than 200 stunning black and white and colour photographs of London cover photos of London street scenes, the river, cafe life, famous monuments and interesting characters. Each photograph has a fascinating quote about London from the great and the good….and the not so good! The Evening Standard referred to Barbara Chandler as having ‘the sharpest eye in London’.

Read more less

• Learn the calculation secrets of the world’s best attacking players • First book from one of the UK’s biggest chess stars • Illustrated with a wealth of examples from top-level chess games This first book from one of the UK’s top grandmasters is a penetrating and detailed (though engaging and friendly) study of typical games played by the most exciting chess players of the modern era, those that are renowned as ‘attacking’ players, from Mikhail Tal, pioneering hero of the ultra-modern attacking style, to Magnus Carlsen, teenage leader of the ‘new wave’ of deadly attackers, via the immortal Bobby Fischer, ‘boa constrictor’ Anatoly Karpov and ‘King Garry’ Kasparov. The author has tried to get into the heads of these stellar players, revealing the secrets of how they choose their decisive moves and succeed in delivering such awesome attacks. This inspiring book encourages you to play more imaginatively and copy the grandmasters’ thought processes in your own game.

Read more less

‘Still seen as the classic games collection’ – English Chess Federation 'It is a work of genius' – The Compulsive Reader One of the most important chess books ever written, reissued in celebration of a chess genius, Bobby Fischer. The American takes the reader through 60 of his games, describing his thoughts, the intricacies behind his and his opponent's strategies, the tactical justification of moves and the psychological battle in each one. You'll find beautifully simple positional play by out-of-this-world combinations that are just breathtaking. Fischer played nearly all of these games as a grandmaster so they are at the very highest level, but his lucid commentary makes every move and idea both accessible and understandable, meaning that every player will learn huge amounts from this book. It is an essential for each chess enthusiast, competitor and professional alike. The controversial alterations that were made to Bobby Fischer's words in the last edition have been omitted in this book, so only the author's own words are expressed, giving a true insight into one of the most gifted, troubled and controversial minds of the 20th century.

Read more less

The classic chess reference book – as seen in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit. This text is a comprehensive guide to opening moves in the game of chess. Covering every standard line of play, it provides the essence of contemporary opening theory, and is indispensable to both club and tournament players. The standard reference work on chess openings for more than half a century, earning the epithet 'the chess player's bible', Batsford's Modern Chess Openings is the most comprehensive single-volume work on the openings. Covering every standard line of play, it provides the distilled essence of contemporary opening theory. This edition is an indispensable reference work for club and tournament players. International Grandmaster Nick de Firmian is a three-times US Champion and an expert on opening theory. He helped develop computer Deeper Blue's opening repertoire in its match victory over arch-theoretician Gary Kasparov.

Read more less

A fascinating and inspiring guide to finding inspiration for your textile art from your domestic surroundings to create nostalgic and meaningful workusing embroidery, quilting, collage and found objects.

Read more less

An introduction to weaving without large looms, with 15 weaving projects and a guide to making your own tools. In Simple Weave, the world of weaving opens beyond gigantic looms and inaccessible patterns. Kerstin Neumüller demonstrates how you can weave with tools that are easy to make yourself and often small enough to fit in your pocket. Here lies inspiration for those who have never woven but are eager to try, as well as for experienced weavers interested in working with flexible and portable tools. Practical and beautiful keepsakes to make include Scandi-style bands, bracelets, pencil and laptop cases and a wall hanging. Kerstin also shares her journey from textiles to woodworking, offering instructions for how to make your own pocket-sized weaving tools. The book is divided into three accessible chapters: Techniques and basic weaving theory. 15 achievable weaving projects including bands, a pencil case, coasters and tea towels. Making your own tools. This section includes descriptions of how to carve a heddle, make a weave stretcher, carve a backstrap loom and make a frame loom. Enjoy the mindfulness and rhythm of this traditional craft and create bespoke, contemporary pieces to fit your own style.

Read more less

Poems to celebrate the winter season.A wonderful bedside companion for a frosty winter’s evening, with poems to immerse yourself in the season. From William Shakespeare to John Keats to Katherine Mansfield, the finest poets that ever put pen to paper describe this beautiful and sometimes terrible season.With one entry for every day through winter, from 1st December until 28th or 29th February, this is the ideal book to take you through the darker months and find joy and comfort in nature.In December ‘Gaunt in gloom’ begins James Joyce’s ‘Nightpiece’. In January, there’s a ‘certain slant of light for Emily Dickinson, while ‘the dull dead wind is out of tune’ for Oscar Wilde. And in February, the last month of meteorological winter, William Morris muses ‘From this chill thaw to dream of blossomed May’.This beautiful and collectable anthology of poems derives from the popular A Poem for Every Night of the Year and also features wintry poems by Alice Oswald, Edward Lear, Emily Brontë, William Wordsworth, Ted Hughes and many more.

Read more less

An exploration of gardens through the ages and across the globe in 366 daily entries, from the ancient hanging gardens of Babylon to a vegetable plot on the International Space Station. In this fascinating and beautifully illustrated collection, garden writer Ruth Chivers presents a garden for every day of the year. It’s a sumptuous journey through garden history, design, horticulture, literary inspiration, folklore and poetry. From Sissinghurst to Versailles, from the medieval poem 'The Romance of the Rose' to the latest horticultural details of a rewilded garden, from imaginary gardens in literature to the real gardens that inspired Van Gogh and Orwell, here are absorbing garden stories for the whole year. Botanical paintings sit next to historic plans and the very best garden photography. The entries are annotated with intriguing facts and inspiring ideas, telling the stories of gardens past, present and even future. A true celebration of gardens, A Garden A Day is a beautiful and essential book for any gardener that brings home the wonder of these spaces to all of us.

Read more less

An outstanding colouring book of decorative letters from the hugely popular Maggie Magoo design house. This beautiful book contains two different illustrations of each letter from the alphabet, plus two different sets of numbers (0 to 9) and useful ampersands. Beautiful floral illustrations, with tiny minibeasts roaming around, embellish these initials and bring them to life. They are itching for a touch of colour and are ideal for any colouring-in fan looking for new, high-quality illustrations. Once coloured they can be framed to make great prints for bedrooms, kitchens, playrooms and nurseries. Whether you want to colour to indulge your creativity or relax with this perfect mindful activity, grab your pencils and pens and choose a letter than means something to you.

Read more less

SHORTLISTED in The Creative Book Awards 2024.A creative and beautiful book packed with inspiring ideas to help you capture likenesses and explore personalities in stitch, from a well-loved textile artist. Anne Kelly's evocative and nostalgic work often incorporates portraits – of friends, family, historical figures and even pets. Within these pages she shares her approach to textile portraiture, bringing in a wealth of different embroidery techniques, including hand and machine embroidery, quilting and appliqué, to render in cloth the nuances of facial expressions and the personalities of her subjects. The book covers: • Selfies at Home: making the perfect self-portrait in cloth. • Representation and Culture: how portraits have been used in textile art for cultural expression around the world. • Stylized Imagery: going beyond the traditional portrait into abstraction. • Place and Time: creating a sense of place with portraiture, sometimes incorporating photographs. • Narratives: how to create a fuller story using deeply personal ephemera and related imagery. • Pet Projects: immortalising your pets in your textile work. Beautifully illustrated with stunning examples of her own work and that of intriguing textile artists who specialise in portraiture from around the world, this is the ideal book for embroiderers and textile artists who want to introduce this often tricky subject area into their work.

Read more less

Introducing Britain's finest examples of brutalist architecture. Brutalist architecture is more popular now than it has ever been. Imposing and dramatic, with monolithic concrete exteriors, it forms an enduring part of our post-war urban landscape. This beautifully photographed book is an authoritative survey of the finest British examples from the very late 1950s to the 1970s, from leading architectural writer Elain Harwood, following on from her acclaimed books on art deco and mid-century architecture. It features iconic public buildings like London’s National Theatre, imposing housing such as the Trellick Tower in West London and Park Hill in Sheffield, great educational institutions including the University of Sussex, and places of worship such as Liverpool’s glorious Metropolitan Cathedral, along with some lesser-known buildings such as Arlington House on Margate’s sea front. Headed up with an introduction that places British brutalism within the context of global events and contemporary world architecture, the huge range of buildings is arranged into Private Houses and Flats, Public Housing, Educational Buildings, Public Buildings, Shops, Markets and Town Centres, Culture and Sport, Places of Worship, Offices and Industry and Transport, and there is a chapter on the atmospheric brutalist sculptures and murals that dot our cities. If you’re part of the increasingly large ranks of brutalism fans, or interested in late 20th-century architecture and society in general, Brutalist Britain is the book for you.

Read more less

Following on from the enduring success of one of the most important chess books ever written, Bobby Fischer: My 60 Memorable Games, and the recently released Magnus Carlsen: 50 Memorable Games, celebrated chess writer Andrew Soltis delivers a book on Fabiano Caruana, the Grandmaster set to rival current world champion Magnus Carlsen. This book details Caruana's remarkable rise from chess prodigy to one of the best chess player in the world, exploring how he acquired the skills of 21st-century grandmaster chess over such a short period of time. This book dives into how he wins by analysing 60 of the games that made him who he is, describing the intricacies behind his and his opponent's strategies, the tactical justification of moves and the psychological battle in each one.

Read more less

Harness the beauty of the natural world to create unique textile art pieces. Learn how to create beautiful textile art inspired by details in nature in this practical and inspirational guide. Acclaimed textile artist Marian Jazmik shows how to use unusual recycled and repurposed materials combined with traditional fabric and thread. Marian reveals the secrets of her lushly textured and sculptural embroidered pieces, from initial photograph to finished object. Exploring nature as a constant source of inspiration, she shows how to turn a chance spotting of lichen on a tree trunk or a scattering of autumn leaves into glorious textile or mixed-media art. Marian goes on to explore the myriad of techniques she uses in her work, including: How to begin with photography, homing in on details in nature. How to manipulate images to create microscopic and surprising detail. How to translate the images into 3-D work, using an eclectic mix of natural and man-made textiles, as well as unusual recycled materials otherwise be destined for landfill (packaging, plastics and household DIY products). Hand and machine embroidery. Dyeing, printing and painting. Using heat gun and soldering iron to create heavily textured surfaces. Packed with practical tips, inspiration and illustrated throughout with glorious examples of Marian’s work, this book will provide you with endless imaginative ideas for distilling the wonders of nature into your own textile art.

Read more less

A charmingly illustrated ode to increasingly threatened wildlife. The much-loved illustrations of Hannah Dale celebrate a new generation of wildlife around the world, including many endangered animals. Born to Be Wild features 50 charming portraits of new cubs, chicks and calves, some with the mother and father, some in their pride or tribe and some setting off on their own. Wildlife has never been under such threat from climate change, habitation loss and poachers and hunters. This book is a timely reminder of the beauty of the wild and the accompanying text explains how the parents undertake their role of nurturer in the wild. From orangutans to humpback whales, tigers to hedgehogs, penguins to elephants, and meerkats to koalas, Hannah Dale captures and preserves the essence of wildlife in this pocket sized book. A wonderful reference and beautiful little gift book for nature lovers.

Read more less

Discover the rich creative possibilities of fragmentation and repair in textile art. Fragmentation and repair are two of the biggest buzzwords in textile and mixed-media art. In this fascinating book, renowned artist Shelley Rhodes explores both concepts, with a wealth of fresh ideas and practical advice. Drawing on her own practice, Shelley explains how she reconstructs and reassembles cloth, paper and other materials to create new pieces, often incorporating found objects and items she has collected over the years to add depth and emotional resonance. From piercing and devoré to patching and darning, techniques include: Fragmentation of materials, text and image. Repair using darning and patching along with pins, tape, adhesive and plaster. The Japanese concepts of wabi-sabi (finding beauty in imperfection) and mottainai (using every last scrap). Using salvaged and recycled materials, and repurposing household items. Methods of distressing and manipulating surfaces including weathering, abrasion, burning, piercing, staining and burying. Collage, working in a series and collecting fragments. Beautifully illustrated with Shelley’s own pieces alongside those of other leading artists, this fascinating book is the ideal companion for any textile artist wanting to bring notions of fragility, fragmentation and repair into their own work.

Read more less

A wonderful portable edition of Millie Marotta's Tropical Wonderland from the the Sunday Times and international bestseller Millie Marotta. Lose yourself in a riot of colouring in and drawing as you bring the exotic creatures and plants in Millie Marotta’s tropical wonderland to life. Millie’s intricate style of illustration encourages you to make your own mark, whether it’s to add to the fine lines on trees or add a splash of colour to the feathers of a tropical parrot. Explore the rainforest further and you will find extraordinary flowers, birds, butterflies and reptiles, including a rainbow boa with shiny scales crying out for a touch of colour. This book will bring enjoyment to anyone who is looking for a creative outlet or a mindful and relaxing activity.

Read more less

A wonderful portable edition of the Sunday Times and international bestseller Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom. Millie Marotta is a hugely popular illustrator and her idiosyncratic drawings of the world's wonderful creatures will draw you in. The international bestseller offers a range of beautiful illustration to colour in, personalise and make your own. The artist's intricate style of illustration will get you itching for pencils and pen to colour in or add a touch of your own illustration, whether it's patterned birds, the flowing tendrils of a jellyfish, or the composite of flowers that make up a grizzly bear. You can colour her work or add your own line drawings to make it special to you. Add your own patterns to the lively forest scene, choose your own birds to add to the branches, or make a pattern with your colour choices. The images are guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing.

Read more less

A guide to transforming found and cherished textiles. Textile artist Mandy Pattullo shows how to source, refashion and repurpose vintage textiles to create beautiful collages and other unique textile objects. There are ideas for embellishment, stitch and appliqué as well as tips for transforming material into impressive quilts, bags, books, tablecloths, tapestry panels and wall hangings and much more. Following the make-do-and-mend and folk art traditions of previous generations, Mandy provides simple instructions for working with a variety of vintage textiles and precious fragments. There are projects for working with quilts, patchworks, linen, lace, wool and even deconstructing pre-loved garments. Each project beautifully demonstrates how fabrics and textiles can find a new and repurposed life and will inspire textile artists to incorporate these past beauties into their own work.

Read more less

"I don't regret for a single moment having lived for pleasure. I did it to the full, as one should do anything one does. I lived on honeycomb." Oscar Wilde Although it is over 120 years since his infamous trial for indecency, Oscar Wilde has never held greater fascination for us. This packed illustrated biography tells the life of Oscar Wilde through his own words – private letters, poems, plays, stories and legendary witticisms. It includes his relationships with key artists and writers of the time, including John Ruskin, Charles Ricketts, and Lillie Langtry. It is illustrated throughout with paintings, engravings, contemporary photographs, cartoons and caricatures of Wilde and his social circle. With illustrations and paintings by Aubrey Beardsley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, James Whistler and Max Beerbohm, it is a beautiful evocation of the glittering fin de siecle word by its most fascinating wordsmith and aesthete. The book details Wilde's ruin after the trial and its outcome. The profundity of his writing from prison and exile form an epitaph, not only to his own life, but also for the era that carelessly delighted in it.

Read more less

A practical guide to painting nature's flora and fauna from award-winning botanical painting authors Meriel Thurstan and Rosie Martin. Recording the wildlife that surrounds us is an age-old art. The authors, in collaboration with the Eden Project, show us how to accurately and beautifully capture the natural world on canvas and make the most of the revival of this art form. Step by step, they take you through the whole process of capturing the essence of some of the most beautiful things on earth. From dinosaur skeletons and fossils to birds, butterflies and frogs. Learn how to paint the subtle scales on a fish, the iridescence of a feather or the lustre on a shell. The authors take you through the full range of skills and techniques you need to undertake natural history drawing and painting. Key techniques are explained with practical step-by-step demonstrations. Beautiful illustrations by the authors are featured throughout and will inspire you and illuminate the techniques you are learning. Painting Nature’s Details is a stunning book on an art form that is fast becoming the new botanical illustration.

Read more less

A unique collection of traditional stories about faeries, elves and goblins. Faeries, elves, goblins, leprechauns, brownies, spriggans and many other supernatural beings leap vividly off the page in this collection of haunting stories. Included are 25 stories drawing on folklore from the rich narrative heritage of Britain and Ireland. Marvel over ancient spells to summon faeries to your house, tremble at the shapeshifting powers of dangerous faery queens, lose yourself amongst the illusions of Faeryland and learn how to protect family members from the terrors of faery abduction. Interspersed with facts on faery folklore, these tales cover faery morals, elvish misdemeanours, the spells cast by goblins and the sightings of the creatures, as well as their dealings with mortals. With charming illustrations from favourite illustrators throughout, including Arthur Rackham, this book reminds us of the enduring appeal of folklore and mystery for all generations.

Read more less

The definitive book of stories from Arthurian legend. Delve into the enchanted world of Arthurian legends where you will meet the Knights of the Round Table, Wizard Merlin, King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. With plots full of romance, adventure and enchantment, these fascinating ancient tales have been revived by the author to reflect their origins in oral history and will appeal to a whole new generation of readers. Stories include Elaine Who Loved Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Tristan and Isolde and The Enchantment of Merlin, many of which have recently been adapted in modern cinema and remain a fascination within contemporary culture. The book also features detailed notes on each story and mentions specific places in Britain with Arthurian links, including properties such as Tintagel. Beautifully illustrated with images inspired by Arthurian legend by Arthur Rackham and others.

Read more less

An engaging and witty puzzle book for science fans all over the world. The Astounding Science Puzzle Book features a series of mini quizzes of 10–15 questions on quirky topics, including 'Marvellous maths and peculiar patterns', 'Wonderful wordplay' and 'Wonders and fragilities of the body'. This handsome book makes exploring maths, physics, chemistry and biology exciting and challenging, and is perfect for any quiz lover. The trivia is based on science but also extends to popular culture, history and language – with Nobel Prize winners alongside Elvis Presley, and the moons of Mars alongside Jurassic Park. The book is interweaved with puzzles, including witty anagrams, logic puzzles, crosswords, dingbats and other illustrated puzzles. Aspiring code-breakers should keep their eyes peeled for hidden puzzles as well. From the Big Bang to Beatles lyrics – this book is perfect for any trivia lover.

Read more less

In the mid-1930s, three giants of the international Modern movement, Bauhaus professors Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and László Moholy-Nagy, fled Nazi Germany and sought refuge in Hampstead in the most exciting new apartment block in Britain. The Lawn Road Flats, or Isokon building, was commissioned by the young visionary couple Jack and Molly Pritchard and designed by aspiring architect Wells Coates. Built in 1934 in response to the question ‘How do we want to live now?’ it was England’s first modernist apartment building and was hugely influential in pioneering the concept of minimal living. During the mid-1930s and 1940s its flats, bar and dining club became an extraordinary creative nexus for international artists, writers and thinkers. Jack Pritchard employed Gropius, Breuer and Moholy-Nagy in his newly formed Isokon design company and the furniture, architecture and graphic art the three produced in pre-war England helped shape Modern Britain. This book tells the story of the Isokon, from its beginnings to the present day, and fully examines the work, artistic networks and legacy of the Bauhaus artists during their time in Britain. The tales are not just of design and architecture but war, sex, death, espionage and infamous dinner parties. Isokon resident Agatha Christie features in the book, as does Charlotte Perriand who Jack Pritchard commissioned for a pavilion design in 1930. The book is beautifully illustrated with largely unseen archive photography, and includes the work of photographer and Soviet spy Edith Tudor-Hart, as well as plans and sketches, menus, postcards and letters from the Pritchard family archive. In Spring 2018, the Isokon building and Breuer, Gropius and Moholy-Nagy were honoured with a Blue Plaque from English Heritage.

Read more less

A beautifully produced book to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grade II listed brutalist icon, the Barbican Estate. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first residents moving into the Barbican Estate in London. This new book is a celebration of this unique complex – looking at the design of the individual flats as well as its status as a brutalist icon. Author and designer Stefi Orazi interviews residents past and present, giving an insight into how life on the estate has changed over the decades. The complex, designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, is now Grade II listed, and is one of the world’s most well-known examples of brutalist architecture. Its three towers – Cromwell, Shakespeare and Lauderdale – are among London’s tallest residential spaces and the estate is a landmark of the city. This is a beautifully illustrated, comprehensive guide to the estate, with newly commissioned photography by Christoffer Rudquist. It will show in detail each of the 140 different flat types, including newly drawn drawings of the flats as well as original plans and maps. Includes fascinating texts by leading architects and design critics, including John Allan of Avanti Architects on the unique building materials and fittings of the flats, and Charles Holland of Charles Holland Architects (and FAT co-founder) on the home and how these concrete towers have become such an integral part of Britain’s domestic and architectural history.

Read more less

Flowers by Rosie Sanders is a large-format book that showcases over 80 of her finest flower paintings in exquisite detail. Often compared to the artist Georgia O'Keeffe, Rosie Sanders's botanical paintings lie at the extreme end of botanical art – they exude dynamism and sensuality in every brushstroke and their richness of colour sets her apart from her contemporaries. In this beautifully illustrated book, Rosie exhibits a selection of flowers, from tulips to orchids, roses to irises, anemones to amaryllis, and illuminates them with fascinating and skillful uses of perspective and light. This large-format book showcases her finest paintings in exquisite detail and they are accompanied by excellent and accessible scientific commentary. Also included is an introduction by renowned Swiss botanist Dr. Andreas Honegger. This book is perfect for artists want to get a closer look at a master's brushstrokes, textures and colour in paintings, or readers who are interested in contemporary botanical art. Chapters include: 1. Diversity in the Garden 2. Dark Flowers: the Magic of Night 3. A Fascination of Orchids 4. Lilies in Spring 5. Varieties of Belladonna 6. In Search of the Black Iris.

Read more less

A real gentleman knows that it is essential to be well-groomed, and while a bit of moisturizer will help, it is not enough. Our Butler’s guide is the ultimate source of information for looking pukka. It need not take long either, and this short guide cuts to the chase: skin care, including the best shaving techniques, hair care, from the mop on your head to nasal hair trimming, style guide (with tips on what to wear for what occasion), and taking care of your clothes and shoes. This simple valet guide will get you dressed to perfection to impress the ladies and the gents.

Read more less

Part of a new stationery range based on the bestselling colouring book Millie Marotta's Wild Savannah. A keepsake box containing 50 loose postcards of illustrations that feature in the bestselling Millie Marotta's Wild Savannah. Explore the savannah and you will find the crocodile and kangaroo, oryx and ostrich, dazzling zebras and leaping gazelles, all beautifully presented and ready to personalise with a touch of colour. These postcards can be sent just as they are to friends and family, coloured in, or even framed and hung on walls. These bite-sized cards of beauty can be used for a range of things but will delight anyone who receives one.

Read more less