In Taking the Fear Out of Watercolour, Hazel Soan teaches you to paint with confidence, releasing you from the fear and trepidation that so often accompanies this challenging medium.

At first glance watercolour painting appears to be quite easy, meaning that beginners start off with very high hopes that are quickly dashed as they realise that it is much trickier than it looks. With wet pigment moving on paper, watercolour is often unpredictable, and it is easy to feel like you are out of control.

In this in-depth guide Hazel Soan takes an alternative approach, teaching you how to work with the watercolour medium and not against it. Special emphasis is placed on the medium’s needs as she demonstrates an importance of understanding the properties of the pigments, the fabric of the paper and the purpose and versatility of each and every brushstroke. Full of thoughtful troubleshooting tips and advice, Hazel explains how and when to have control, when to cajole and coax, and more importantly, when to let go.

Packed with finished paintings, step-by-step demonstrations and works in progress, this handy book takes you through all the common problems that arise in watercolour painting, allowing beginners and improvers alike to increase their skill levels and produce beautiful results.

An Informal Guide to Workwear offers a fascinating overview of some of the most important workwear pieces, discussing their history, function, construction and materials.

Workwear has transcended its utilitarian roots to become a staple in modern wardrobes. Originally designed for labour-intensive jobs, today’s workwear blends durable, well-made and sustainable clothing with fashion. In a world of increasingly fast fashion, workwear provides a sustainable alternative as a statement of endurance and quality. An Informal Guide to Workwear explores the links to the past and the incredible history of how this style became a staple. Workwear pieces include:

• berets, popularised by Claude Monet and Che Guevara, among others
• blue jeans, America’s sartorial gift to the world
• the siren suit, famously worn by Winston Churchill during the war
• the shop coat, donned by Christian Dior in a show of democratic solidarity with the workers in his atelier

Featuring vibrant illustrations by Michael Parkin, this book is perfect for anyone interested in discovering more about the history of fashion and style. 

Dive into the fascinating world of fashion embroidery, with practical tricks and techniques, and examples of some of the most iconic designs from the catwalk.

With a focus on the most influential designers and couture and catwalk pieces from the last four decades, The Art of Couture Embroidery unravels the intricate relationship between high fashion garment construction and the embroidery that makes it sing.

Written by established embroidery expert Jessica Pile and art and fashion historian Robert Ossant, this beautifully presented book is perfect for embroiderers of all levels, from hobbyists to students and professionals. Looking at the finest embroidery used in high fashion, this book reveals the inside story of each leading designer, the history of the design house and the untold stories of their most groundbreaking collections. In each chapter, dedicated to a different leading designer or design house, Jessica and Robert consider a single outstanding and iconic embroidered garment, showing the reader how they can apply the same techniques in their own designs. 

There are more than 30 moves you can choose from a typical chess position, yet Masters regularly manage to select the best moves – and they do it faster, more confidently and with less calculation than other players.

This is because Masters have shortcuts that enable them to think more efficiently.

This instructive and practical guide explains these techniques, including:

• Using specific cues to identify good moves
• Streamlining analysis of the consequences of moves
• Using both objective and highly subjective criteria to find the right move – from any position

An introduction to making himmeli straw mobiles with 22 unique projects.

Discover the traditional art of himmeli in this captivating book in which Finnish craft and sleek artistry intertwine to create stunning geometric mobiles from rye straw. The exquisite mobiles with their angular lines, geometric shapes and crisp, airy feeling have something natural and timeless about them. With the addition of colours and new materials such as paper drinking straws, they become modern sculptures that can adorn your home or make thoughtful gifts for friends and family.

In Himmeli you get a comprehensive introduction to building himmeli mobiles alongside step-by-step instructions and a gallery of inspirational images that will help both beginners and seasoned crafters create 22 beautiful mobiles. 

This absorbing book covers:

• Himmeli: history and folklore

• Rye straw: an introduction to materials

• Geometric beauty: the basic shapes

• The technique: tips for a successful build

• Projects: with step-by-step instructions and diagrams

 Himmeli is your key to creating timeless, intricate hanging mobiles from readily available and affordable materials to bring a touch of Nordic flair to your home.

A rich collection of poetry that celebrates the beauty and symbolism of flowers.

This exquisite book is a revised and updated edition of a classic collection which contains over 50 poems accompanied by beautiful illustrations of a range of different flowers. From verses celebrating the beginning of spring with the emergence of the snowdrops, daffodils, and bluebells to poems that honour the summer colour of asters, the heady scent of jasmine, and the brazen sunflower.

The classic poets are featured including Shakespeare, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Thomas Hardy, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and Seamus Heaney. There’s also range of rich poetry from less-famous names which have stood the test of time and evoke nature’s beauty, as well as contemporary poets such as Lemn Sissay, Imtiaz Dharker, Wendy Cope and Ada Limón.

An illustrated anthology of poetry celebrating life in England’s capital.

‘Earth hath not anything to show more fair’ said Wordsworth on London in 1802. Hundreds of years on, the same can still be said of Britain’s largest metropolis. Poems of London is a wonderful anthology of poetry celebrating England’s capital and life as a Londoner.

Verses from our best-loved authors, such as William Wordsworth, William Blake and John Betjeman among others, are accompanied by beautiful illustrations – often taken from iconic tube posters – of London’s famous sights, green parks and Londoners in their daily lives.

Epic poems celebrating London’s vast and majestic presence sit alongside Cockney ditties about pie, mash and jellied eels in this updated collection. Celebrating every aspect of ‘the big smoke’ – from the Houses of Parliament and the Blitz spirit, through to red double-decker buses and infamous rainy English summers – this is the perfect gift for any Londoner or visitor to the city.

A handy poetry companion to keep around in times of difficulty.

This supportive anthology of 100 specially chosen poems is here to help. Whatever the shape of your struggle, there’s a poem here to guide you through it, providing a shoulder to cry on or a helping hand. There are meditations on the nature of life, grief, and memory, and how the fabric of life and death weave together. Poets young and old, classic and contemporary, give their perspectives on loss all across the spectrum of love, from pets to partners to abstract ideas. 

This collection of poems includes the likes of Shakespeare’s timeless observations, Maya Angelou’s thoughtful philosophising, the ancient wisdom of Lao Tzu, and much much more. You can trust in the poetry of some of the brightest and most sensitive minds throughout history to reach out to you through your feelings to offer you relief and understanding in confusing times.

Following on from 100 Happy Poems and 100 Poems to Help You Sleep, this is a collection of poems that will help you feel a little less alone in your time of need.

‘Dress as though your life depends on it, or don’t bother.’
(Leigh Bowery, 1985)

Outlaws dives into the anarchic energy of London’s 1980s club scene, celebrating the avant-garde, experimental designs of Leigh Bowery and his fellow fashion renegades, including John Galliano, Stephen Linard, BodyMap, Pam Hogg, Rachel Auburn and Wayne Hemingway. 

This unique and daring creative movement sparked an explosion of outrageous fashion. Outlaws features specially commissioned photography of original outfits crafted by 28 trailblazing clothes designers. They are accompanied by first-hand accounts from musician Holly Johnson, DJ Mark Moore, artist Peter Doig and photographer Dave Swindells, as well as rare photos and flyers from club nights where these outfits were worn, such as Bowery’s legendary Taboo.

Outlaws captures a subculture that defied norms and pushed the boundaries. It is a tribute to the visionaries who reshaped British pop culture and blazed a trail to high fashion.

First published in 1956, We Made a Garden is the story of how Margery Fish, the leading gardener of the 1960s, and her husband Walter transformed an acre of wilderness into a stunning cottage garden, still open to the public at East Lambrook Manor, Somerset, England. This is now one of the most important books on gardening ever written. A beautiful and timeless book on creating a garden.

Margery Fish turned to gardening when she was in her mid-forties and went on to develop the whole concept of a cottage garden. She had a love of flowers coupled with a passion for nature and made an intensive research into the traditionally grown plants with which cottage gardens in Britain were once so densely planted. In this classic owrk, she recounts the trails and tribulations, successes and failures, of her venture with ease and humour. Topics covered are colourful and diverse, ranging from the most suitable hyssop for the terraced garden through composting, hedges, making paths to the best time to lift and replant tulip bulbs. Her good sense, practical knowledge and imaginative ideas will encourage and inspire gardeners everywhere. 

A fascinating exploration of VW, one of the most revered and enduring international car brands, with dynamic photography and insightful text that explains why we love them and why you should want to own one.

With a second-to-none reputation for reliability, innovation and style, Volkswagen is one of the world’s best-loved car manufacturers. From the adorable and unforgettable Type One, otherwise known as the Beetle or Bug, which reached huge heights of popularity in the 1960s, to today’s groundbreaking hybrid and electric vehicles, good design has always been at the forefront of VW’s philosophy.

This fascinating book, written by a long-time VW fanatic who is also an expert in art and design, traces the development of Volkswagen design throughout the years, examining the most exciting and stylish models – not only the Beetle but the huge range of family cars, camper vans, SUVs and modern city cars the company has produced throughout the years, and not forgetting the iconic Golf GTI.

The perfect gift for the car aficionado in your life, whether they own a VW or not, this fun and quirky book explores everything that’s great about this classic brand.

Master painting lively figures and private portraits, with simple exercises and step-by-step demonstrations.

Bestselling artist and author Hazel Soan explains how to create beautiful and engaging paintings of strangers and loved ones, with handy hints and work-in-progress paintings throughout. Learn how to overcome shyness or anxiety about painting people in private and in public. Capture their energy and see beyond their likeness through angles, movement, tone and detail. Understand how to make them comfortable with poses, a timeframe and support. Learn about clothing, proportion, measuring and scene-setting.

This is the only book you need for painting people and portraits. This extensive guide is ideal for all painters, new or experienced.