Crafts & Collectables

Replacing the old Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, the three volumes of Spink’s Banknote Book provide novices as well as experienced collectors with detailed information on each country’s banknotes, with colour images of the notes (front and back), bank officials’ signatures, notes on the national monetary system and valuations. Altogether the volumes cover over 200 countries, including British dependencies, but not the United Kingdom itself. This first volume includes the introduction.

Replacing the old Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, the three volumes of Spink’s Banknote Book provide novices as well as experienced collectors with detailed information on each country’s banknotes, with colour images of the notes (front and back), bank officials’ signatures, notes on the national monetary system and valuations. Altogether the volumes cover over 200 countries, including British dependencies, but not the United Kingdom itself.

Replacing the old Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, the three volumes of Spink’s Banknote Book provide novices as well as experienced collectors with detailed information on each country’s banknotes, with colour images of the notes (front and back), bank officials’ signatures, notes on the national monetary system and valuations. Altogether the volumes cover over 200 countries, including British dependencies, but not the United Kingdom itself.

Listing thousands of silver marks from around the world, from 1700 to the present day, Miller’s Encyclopedia provides the most comprehensive, in-depth guide to identifying the maker, date and country of origin of any silver object. The work is in two volumes: the first is a visual index of marks listed by type (letters, animals, emblems etc); the second lists marks by continent and country and includes information on various resources for collectors. Two volumes, slip-cased.

Named after the great Italian Renaissance ceramicist, the Della Robbia Pottery was founded by Harold Rathbone, the son of a Liverpool businessman. Embodying the principles of the Pre-Raphaelites and the Arts and Crafts Movement, it produced uniquely beautiful tiles, vases and other wares for more than a decade. This lavishly illustrated book charts its history, explains its working methods, and includes a catalogue of its products, an A-Z of the pottery's artists, and a guide to its marks.

Japanese lacquer-work was in high demand in 17th-century England, but following difficulties sourcing wares from Japan, English craftsmen began imitating the style, creating a ‘japanning’ industry, which thrived in the 18th and 19th centuries. This is the most comprehensive guide available on the subject; it includes many photographic examples of japanning, detailing its origins, techniques used and life for workers in the industry, with specific chapters on craftsmen in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Bilston.

This well-illustrated study explores the ways in which the essence of a flower can be translated into jewellery, and how jewellers have approached that challenge since the late 19th century. Carol Woolton highlights the skills of observation and craftsmanship required to interpret floral beauty through the media of metal and precious stone, and provides examples of notable pieces by designers including Lalique, Fabergé and Joel Arthur Rosenthal.

When it first appeared in Old English, 'cræft' signified a sense of knowledge, wisdom and resourcefulness. Using our collective nostalgia for authentic objects produced by human hands as a starting point, the archaeologist and broadcaster Alexander Langlands interweaves historical research, scientific analysis and personal anecdotes. He attempts to recover the lost meaning of the word, stressing the importance of passing on traditions from one generation to the next.

These nine alphabet charts allow knitters to add names and slogans to their own projects or to one of the 24 patterns in the book, including a monogrammed sweater, personalized hats and bags, and homeware. The fonts range from simple block letters to more elaborate cursive and Wild West styles. Basic knitting skills, and the fair isle and intarsia techniques that are used for the lettering, are explained fully and illustrated with diagrams.

These 16 projects, by four renowned origami artists, use a range of techniques, from traditional folds to more recent methods, such as electro and wet folding. There are tips on tools and materials, clear instructions and photographs, and projects designed to advance the crafter's skills, including wall art, jewellery and decorative pieces.

Inspired by action-hero comics and mythological creatures, these creative patterns for children or adults use mainly basic stitches and Aran-weight yarns. Ideal for knitters with some experience, there is advice on materials, needles and tension alongside full instructions for knitting, lining and creating embellishments, such as tassels and eyes. The photographed designs include a furry, sparkly Fluffball, a bulgy-eyed Fly and a sequinned Griffin.

Deconstructing the distinctive style of 25 fashion icons from Marlene Dietrich and Audrey Hepburn to Diana Ross, this guide analyses their clothing, hair and make-up and advises on how to shop for vintage items to recreate their period look.

Sue Mason’s finely drawn frieze takes us on a colouring-in journey through the exotic habitats where wild animals roam and spice plants grow – tamarind and giraffes in tropical Africa, vanilla and iguana in Central America, cardamom and peacocks in Sri Lanka, and six more scenes of animals and the spices’ foliage and flowers in a continuous, pull-out frieze.

This comprehensive introduction to weaving by the internationally acknowledged expert Anne Field covers the composite parts of the loom, shows how to thread or warp it and explains basic weaving techniques. The 11 projects featured, including a table runner, cushion cover, wall hanging, scarf and jacket, all teach a different practical skill, from how to create stripes and twill to how to make a reversible cloth, and a helpful appendix covers yarns and draft writing.

There are 20 portraits of cats in this book of Querkles; they are hidden in puzzles made up of hundreds of overlapping circles, the segments of which have been numbered 1–5. All you have to do is colour or shade the circles and segments, making 1s the darkest and 5s the lightest, to reveal your feline work of art. Off-mint.

The challenge of botanical art is at once to create a painting that accurately reflects the appearance and colour of a plant, recording the correct number of petals, sexual parts and other features, while at the same time presenting a beautiful and artistically satisfying composition. This book places emphasis on meticulous observation through drawing to build the skills required and presents examples, exercises and colour studies of a variety of flowering plants and fruit.

Table mats, bags, wall hangings and quilts are some of the appliqué projects featured in this illustrated how-to guide, which contains templates for 20 designs. Listing all necessary materials, the book features chapters on fabric selection, tools and equipment and the different machine and hand techniques, including needle-turn, needle felting, piecing, embroidery, quilting and finishing.

In this book a wide range of historic coats of arms, crests and seals are presented in outline form, ready for you to colour in. There are over 90 outline drawings, labelled with the names of the original holders of the arms, but the choice of colours is up to you.

A Cecil Edwards, who worked in the Persian carpet industry for over 50 years, describes the history of the craft, shares knowledge about the colours, designs, symbols and techniques used, and indicates how to purchase rugs of quality. With over 400 mainly black-and-white photographs and images, this guide, first published in 1953, is still considered essential by those involved in the industry.

A small, yet exceptional collection of Tudor and Stuart silver, that includes an early apostle spoon, a tankard engraved with arms of Archbishop Frewin and two of the so-called ‘Armada’ dishes, forms the focus of this richly illustrated introduction to English silver of the period. Chapters on banqueting plate, the place of silver in aristocratic households, church plate and the silver trade are followed by a detailed catalogue of the 25 pieces in the David Little collection.

After smoking was prohibited in the 17th century, the Chinese began using snuff as medicine, producing special bottles for its storage. Highly collectable items today, this book explains their allure, with chapters on materials used – glass, jade, quartz – and the motifs and painting styles that decorate some exteriors. Including many photographic examples that reveal the variety of designs, Stevens reserves his favourites for the final chapter. Slipcased.

The distinctive ceramics produced by Clarice Cliff (1899–1972) at the Wilkinson and Newport potteries remain among the most popular collectables of the 21st century. This guide and reference for the enthusiast provides a useful introduction to the much-loved designer's world and key information on identifying her work. Over 500 pieces are illustrated and identified, and there is also practical advice on sourcing, storage, display and restoration.

Matt Hayes is one of Britain's best-known anglers, through appearances on the Discovery Channel and contributions to the Angling Times. His photographs of the sport, and the fish, have been used in many publications and, in this guide, he describes his methods for creating compelling angling images, from taking a good 'trophy shot' on the river bank to creating atmosphere and drama in a variety of locations, and photographing fish underwater. Limited Edition. Off-mint.

Born in Romania, Demetre Chiparus studied in Paris and stayed on to experience the cultural explosion of the inter-war years. He became an iconic Art Deco sculptor, his delicate figurines – which depict elaborately dressed dancers, children and animals – enjoying great popularity. Charting his life and influences, and the materials and foundries he used, this updated volume of the 1993 publication includes colour plates of his work, recently discovered pieces and a selection of his paintings.

This well-illustrated guide provides profiles of leading international players and advice on every aspect of competitive poker. Aimed primarily at the players of online poker games and participants and aspirants to the ever-more popular leagues and tournaments, the manual offers 266 tips including how to rapidly calculate odds and how to read your opponents' tells.

An understanding of skeletal and muscular anatomy is crucial in order to accurately depict the human body. The 20 examples in this sketchbook, including drawings by Da Vinci, Dürer, Picasso and Giacometti, are interspersed with concise tips to provide a technical understanding of the subject, and blank and grid-lined pages on which to practice. For beginners, there is a general information section on materials and techniques.

This art manual employs both digital and traditional painting techniques to describe how to construct convincing sci-fi characters, vehicles and environments. Step-by-step project tutorials are supplemented by a section on developing coherent concepts and matching characters and architecture.

This comprehensive introduction to pastels comprises an overview of materials and techniques and a series of illustrated tutorials.

With the emphasis on reusing, rather than buying new, Kirstie Allsopp demonstrates how vintage fabrics, furniture and other everyday items can be revamped to create unique home furnishings. The 30 or more projects, each with step-by-step instructions, range from an embellished trinket box and gilded picture frame to the more ambitious tiled splashback. The book also includes practical guidance on sourcing materials, period styling and crafting techniques.

When making or designing your own clothes, sewing patterns are a useful starting point, but often need to be altered to achieve a good fit. Lee Hollahan, a fashion and textiles expert, explains how to use and adapt patterns, from choosing the right size and understanding the markings to translating flat shapes and pattern blocks into wearable garments.

Vanessa Mooncie’s designs for an entire menagerie of hats provide easy-to-follow instructions intended for knitters of all abilities. These fun hats in adult and children’s sizes range from a smart-suited penguin to a floppy-eared bunny, and the appendix explains how to line your hat and includes a guide to basic techniques, a glossary of abbreviations, conversion charts and a list of suppliers.

The perfect gift for babies and toddlers, these 30 imaginative designs range from lacy summer sandals to woolly winter boots and are created through knitting, crochet or stitching. With clear illustrations and instructions, and a section that explains the techniques that are used in more detail, many of these projects are suitable for beginners. The book also includes pattern sheets and a template for making soles.

With step-by-step instructions and patterns, this is a complete guide to making stump, wired and cloth dolls. It begins with practical information on tools and equipment and explains how to make realistic faces and hands using embroidery and needle sculpting – essential for giving each project its finishing touches. To further encourage creativity, a range of techniques for customizing fabrics are also detailed, from simple embroidery and felting to intricate cutwork.

From the historical background of the Du Paquier factory in baroque Vienna, to a study of the porcelain room in the former Palais Dubsky in Brno, the first two volumes of this lavishly illustrated work contain 13 essays on aspects of du Paquier’s porcelain, including its style, cultural context and links to Meissen. Volume three provides technical chapters and a catalogue of nearly 500 pieces, plus a CD-ROM of original documents. The volumes are cloth bound, decorated with Du Paquier motifs and slip-cased.

An admirer of John Ruskin and a founder of Brighton Museum, Henry Willett was an enthusiastic collector, especially of 16th–19th century British ceramics. His collection is remarkable for being rooted in 'popular British history', with a varied subject matter depicting bull baiting, pugilism, poetry, animal husbandry and teetotalism. The book reproduces 700 of the nearly 2,000 items he owned and replicates his idiosyncratic cataloguing system, with sections including ‘Royalty and Loyalty’, ‘Naval Heroes’ and ‘Domestic Incidents’.

Drawing on the magnificent collection of over 200 Chinese jades and other hardstones in The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, this volume traces the history of jade carving in China and discusses topics such as geological sources and the social significance of jade. Lin provides photographs and detailed commentaries for 105 objects ranging from humanoid figures dated c.3500–2500 BCE to 18th-century carved vessels and sculptures. The remainder of the museum’s collection is illustrated and briefly described in an appendix.

This comprehensive guide for beginners and experienced dolls’ house enthusiasts, whether using 1/12 or 1/24 scales, describes a range of styles, covering historical periods and cultural influences from a Tudor interior to a Zen apartment. The author suggests ways to present miniature scenes featuring purchased items and provides instructions for making items such as tables and a fireplace. Illustrated with colour photographs, the book includes advice on equipment and a list of suppliers.

This illustrated guide to Spanish fans offers a comprehensive overview of their origin, development and use, from the gem-encrusted status symbols of the wealthy to the mass-produced, disposable paper trifles used to advertise goods and services. The various religious and cultural influences that inspired their design are considered, along with the range of materials used to construct them and the artists who decorated them.

This illustrated study brings together work by almost 40 international artists, including Maria Nepomuceno and Anton Alvarez, whose use of cutting-edge materials, tools and technologies is redefining the boundaries of what is considered craft today.

The heirloom quilt is specifically designed to explore sewing-machine techniques for fabric embellishment and manipulation. With the Dresden Plate block as the centrepiece, there are nine panels comprising three designs, and smaller panels and border which complete the quilt. All are described through step-by-step instructions, example photographs and diagrams, with templates provided. Imperial measurements with metric equivalents.

Profiling 40 fashion designers, including Missoni, Sibling and Sonia Rykiel, who use hand and machine knitting, crochet and macramé to produce garments, this illustrated volume explores both their approaches to knitwear and how they use different stitches, techniques and yarns to create their distinctive signature pieces.

This manual shows how geometric shapes can be used to achieve striking designs, with lessons and projects to help knitters learn new skills and create hats, fingerless gloves, scarves and a floor mat in a variety of simple but effective patterns.

Each of the eight tutorials in this art techniques guide is an extended dissection of a famous Van Gogh composition, with a list of required materials and colours, a drawing template and illustrated instructions for each step of the painting process (Sunflowers has 32 steps illustrated). Also included are The Bedroom, Wheatfield with Crows and Fishing Boats on the Beach.

With the world’s best reaching the solution in about 20 seconds, this guide aims to train Rubik's cube solvers to approach such times and also includes tips for solving the 4x4 and 5x5 versions of the puzzle.

These seven lessons, focusing on watercolour, cover various aspects of landscape painting, from tone and texture to composition and perspective, each including clear instructions for tackling a relevant project, such as a desert view, a brooding sky and a Hawaiian beach scene. The book also offers practical information about materials and a detailed account of a sketching trip along the West Coast of Ireland.

With its origins in manga graphic novels, the anime animation style has become highly popular and influential beyond Japan in recent decades. Aimed at the novice animator, this guide examines the graphic elements that are important in creating the distinctive style and explains how to make an authentic anime film, from script to finished movie, using both traditional animation techniques and the latest digital tools.

Charles Avery is a leading authority on Renaissance art, and an admirer of the 16th- and 17th-century bronze works of Joseph de Levis and his family. This illustrated survey of their lives and works includes church-bells, some of which remain in remote country churches, mortars, inkstands, perfume-burners, door-knockers and firedogs. Each artefact is accompanied by a detailed explanation of its significance and inscriptions, while the family story gives an insight into the Jewish Diaspora of the period.

The widely influential Art Deco style perhaps attained its highest expression in France, where the term was coined in the 1920s. With background essays, profiles of the leading artists and large-format photographs, this exhibition catalogue examines over 80 masterpieces from the collection held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Examples include furniture, textiles, interiors and decorative objects by French-based designers such as René Lalique, Jean Dunand, Raoul Dufy and Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann.

From a Shaker-style desk and a blanket chest to a Robert Adam-inspired breakfront bookcase and an inlaid chest of drawers, this collection contains 25 carpentry projects from Furniture and Cabinetmaking magazine. Including classical, traditional, Arts and Crafts and contemporary style designs, the plans are aimed principally at the intermediate level to experienced woodworker, with step-by-step instructions, diagrams, photographs and exploded 3D artworks.

Written by curator Aileen Dawson, this comprehensive volume focuses on the British Museum’s Worcester porcelain collection. Made with a ‘hard paste’, Worcester porcelain was more durable than other contemporary wares, and particularly suited the brewing of tea – a custom rising in popularity during the 18th century. In this guide, 101 exhibits are clearly photographed and itemized. While many are tea-related – cups, mugs, sugar bowls, a tea pot – the collection also features vases, figurines, a punchbowl and a wine cooler.

Incorporating information about tools, materials and techniques such as soldering and stone setting, these step-by-step instructions and over 200 photographs will inspire beginners as well as experienced practitioners to create unique pieces of jewellery and develop a personal style.

The many aspects of trackside activities and railway infrastructure are discussed, with advice on realism and instructions for modelling a range of accessories such as fencing and walls, crossings and footbridges, huts and water towers, people and road vehicles.

The detailed plan in this manual fits an N gauge multi-track railway into a folding wooden case that can be stowed away in a cupboard. All aspects of the layout are considered, including the trackwork, wiring, landscaping, buildings and accessories.

The author’s background in geotechnical engineering informs this manual on crafting structural features for model railways of any gauge. Beginning with a discussion of how to plan realistic infrastructure and the importance of baseboard construction and track laying, further chapters deal with modelling tunnels, embankments, walls and fences, both from scratch and from ready-made kits. There is also advice on adding vegetation and other detailing.

A compendium of advice on love, sex and family life, the Hindu text known as the Kama Sutra was probably compiled in the second century CE from earlier texts, and it is best known for its practical advice about sexual positions. This adult colouring book provides intricate line drawings based on illustrations of those chapters. Sexually explicit.

Klimt (1862–1918) is one of the key figures in 20th-century art and 20 of his paintings, including The Virgin, both portraits of Adele Bloch-Bauer and The Kiss, are reproduced in this book alongside outlines to colour in and brief introductions to the artworks.

David Webb, an experienced artist and teacher, offers comprehensive guidance to beginners and improving watercolourists, providing clearly illustrated instructions and solutions to the most common problems that students encounter. Including advice on tools and equipment, the guide explores over 20 different techniques, from flat wash to thick gouache; examines composition, with special sections on landscapes, textures and portraits; and considers the varied methods and styles of ten renowned watercolour artists. Slightly off-mint.

The natural world is teeming with strange and striking plants that can be an enjoyable challenge to paint or draw. With step-by-step exercises and advice on setting up your work environment, using technology, choosing a subject, drawing and incorporating colour, this volume will help readers to produce impressive illustrations from nature. Presented by award-winning artists, many of the plants featured are inspired by the Eden Project’s Rainforest Biome.

The British knitwear designer Sasha Kagan is known for her use of rich colour and texture, and this collection of her creations provides detailed instructions, with schematics and pattern charts, for making 22 contemporary garments, including sweaters, tops, jackets, wraps and scarves. Accompanying descriptions of the basic knitting and crochet stitches, there is guidance on how to accomplish finishing touches such as bands, tassels and pompoms.

The complex world of wargaming and role-play and strategy games is explained in this introduction to the hobby. Including historical background and recommendations for the best modern games in each genre, the book also provides tips on modelling miniatures and designing your own game variations.

David Russell, a retired builder with a passion for woodcarving and antique tools, built up the collection catalogued in this book. Described as a ‘bible in its field’, it depicts over 1,500 tools including race knives, badger planes, bow drills and gimlets, with descriptive details and information on makers’ marks. The introductory essays tell the story of the collection and provide a brief history of woodworking tools from the Stone Age onwards.

Board games have existed for millennia and, despite the allure of smartphones, remain hugely popular, even giving birth to the recent phenomenon of board-game cafés. From the ancient Egyptian Senet (‘a playable guide to the afterlife’), via such classics as Monopoly (which originally used a circular board), this book explores why they captivate us and traces their development up to the latest innovative ‘Eurogames’.

Portrait medals, which commemorate individuals through a combination of likeness, imagery and text, were an important artistic innovation of the Renaissance. Ng presents fine examples, ranging from the 15th to 19th century, which are now in one of the world’s most significant private collections. She traces the art form’s origins and development, discussing the techniques used across Europe to make medals and the personal and political purposes for which they were produced.

Dating back to pre-Ancient Egyptian times, the earliest surviving dolls were probably religious idols, rather than children’s playthings. This highly illustrated history examines materials used in doll-making and includes sections on doll’s houses, puppets and teddy bears. There are examples from Persia, Pakistan and Brazil, alongside the 19th-century child-pleasing French ‘bébé’ that could cry or drink from a bottle, and the rival German doll that could whistle when pressed.

This book teaches beginners the essentials of saxophone playing in a variety of styles, from funk and pop to jazz and blues in 21 lessons. It also features illustrated fingering charts and a library of scales, together with advice on accessories, practice schedules and how to read music. Backing tracks and demonstrations are provided on the accompanying CD.

Requiring space and specialist tools, this guide covers every aspect of guitar making, from the best choice of wood to the prevention of buzzes and rattles. The book is clearly laid out and includes useful tips, colour photographs and detailed instructions.

Award-winning artist Peter Jarvis demonstrates the techniques that are used to create detailed architectural images of the built environment, including perspective drawing, 3D modelling and colouring. Through step-by-step illustrations the book explores the technical processes involved in creating aerial and street views, from initial sketches through to the finished drawings, with a focus on the use of watercolour for the final touches.

Sharing many similarities with the 'slow food' and 'slow living' movements, this thoughtful exploration encourages knitters to step back, pare down, and celebrate the craftsmanship of their work. Covering themes such as sourcing yarn, working environmentally, and experimenting with new techniques, the book offers patterns for a knitted wardrobe including a cowl, wrap cardigan, cabled pullover, and hat and glove set.

In this comprehensive reference manual, designed to ‘help you get from the idea of a quilt to the reality of it’, Erin Burke Harris has brought together information on fabrics, colour, traditional and contemporary quilt designs, and the techniques for sewing and assembling a quilt. As well as photographs of quilting in progress, there are pictures to inspire colour and design ideas, and illustrated articles on eight quilt artists.

Matt Chapple, one-time winner of The Great British Sewing Bee, shares his skills, outlining the essential toolkit for marking, cutting, stitching and making patterns. Starting by customizing and decorating existing garments with patches, pockets and darts, the reader can then attempt seven projects from scratch, from a bow tie to a summer dress. There are tips for maintaining clothes and all instructions are clearly explained and well illustrated.

This collection of world landmark structures to colour in includes Angkor Wat, Hagia Sophia, the Pyramide du Louvre and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. The pictures are drawn in intricate architectonic detail on high-quality, single-sided pages, and each one is accompanied by a concise history of the building.

Ideal for beginners, and including basic information on equipment from pencils to sewing machines, each technique in this practical guide is explained with tips and colour photographs and followed up with an activity: from sewing seams to making a tablecloth; piping to stitching a headboard cover; pleating to upholstering a footstool. In addition, 30 easy-to-follow household projects include a throw, cushions and curtains.

Based on forty years of research, this highly illustrated volume blends science, art and ethnography to explore Koekboya – a Turkish word for the dyes made from roots, flowers, leaves, tubers, seeds and insects. The author lists more than 100 natural stains, explaining their provenance, cultural history and which natural textiles they are compatible with, and includes information on making and using the pigments described.

This practical manual for beginners uses twelve ‘workshops’ to introduce basic quilting techniques, with a project to build confidence and reinforce each skill, from oven gloves and box pouches to fruit-shaped pin cushions and place mats. The step-by-step instructions are accompanied by clear illustrations and photographs, and there are many useful tips on fabrics, equipment, stitching and binding, as well as templates, a glossary, and a list of useful suppliers.

Ideal for using remnants of wool, these 30 teapot covers from the editors at Knitting Magazine feature a range of designs, from stripes and more elaborate colourwork to animals and beadwork. Suitable for more experienced knitters.

The designs in this manual take inspiration from a range of worldwide sources: Japanese Rags reflects the patches on a worker’s coat, and the colours used in the Samarkand table runner are influenced by a funfair ride. Each of these 24 new projects, made with shot cottons and striped fabrics, includes cutting instructions, templates and clear guidelines for making, assembling and finishing the blocks.

The beginner woodcarver is introduced to the essential tools and techniques of the craft in this manual and there are also practical projects to suit more advanced practitioners, from bookends and boxes to intricately carved picture frames.

The innovative Mortlake potters introduced new shapes and motifs, in particular the sprigged hunting jug, with its contrasting dark brown and buff body, which remained highly popular throughout the 19th century. This illustrated study focuses on the working life of Joseph Kishere, from his apprenticeship at Sanders' Mortlake pottery to the foundation of his own potworks in 1797. As the story unfolds, it traces the history of both enterprises, their owners, their families and the Thames-side village in which they lived.

Comic exaggeration and distortion are important tools in the cartoonist’s toolkit and this reference guide provides hundreds of examples and step-by-step sequences outlining how to achieve these and other key techniques. As well as how to draw with traditional media and digital tools, there is also advice on generating ideas and selling your work.

Tracing the origins of the genre to the American pulp magazines of the early 20th century and later science fiction adventure stories and comic books, this showcase of fantasy art celebrates some of the important illustrators in its history and presents the work of leading contemporary practitioners. With contributions from over 50 artists, different hero and warrior types are identified and techniques explored through step-by-step sequences.

Incorporating unusual materials into paintings can create interesting 3D effects that trick the eye and attract attention. Inside this guide are ten basic ‘recipes’ for bold, colourful artworks that include unexpected components such as tissue paper, fabric, noodles and rice. With step-by-step instructions and recipe cards to explain materials and techniques, artists are encouraged to explore their media in the same way a creative chef experiments with food.

In this beginner-friendly guide, Reid provides simple, step-by-step exercises on controlling your brush, the four basic watercolour techniques, working with colour and using photographs and photocopying to create paintings. Off-mint.

Suitable for both paints and pencils, this large-format colouring book reproduces 20 key works, and allows you to combine relaxation and learning as you study the originals and imitate the artist's techniques. Includes advise on how to approach colouring, a biography and detailed commentary on each artwork, putting it in the context of the artist's life and career.

Based on the meticulously detailed illustrations of animals and sea creatures in the original Art Forms in Nature (1904) by the German biologist and artist Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919), this book offers an astonishing variety of well-drawn natural forms to colour.

Dating back to the 1870s, and familiar to generations of French schoolchildren, the Deyrolle educational charts show varieties of plants and animals, from butterflies and mushrooms to cereal crops and silkworms. This book presents 60 of the best-known colour posters with 60 black-and-white illustrations inspired by them, to colour in.

Wargamers are in search of the Crystal Pool in the Lost Islands of the Ghost Archipelago in this narrative game. The book includes eight scenarios and rules for creating characters, setting up the table and battling for treasures and lost secrets.

Set in the same world as the popular Frostgrave, players of this fantasy wargame scenario search the Isles for pieces of the ancient Colossus statue in ten linked adventures, encountering monsters and specialist warriors along the way.

First made popular in the 19th century, designing paper toys can be likened to an art form; and putting them together can be enjoyed by both children and adults. These vintage cut-outs include circus acts, a merry-go-round, dress-up dolls and a church with wedding guests. Follow the instructions on the design, cut out the pieces with scissors and a craft knife, and glue together.

A specialist in producing large-format and panoramic views of the British Isles, Peter Watson explains the secrets behind over 90 of his photographs. The practical advice on equipment, light, locations, composition and technique is suitable for all levels of ability.

Each of the 40 intricate dot-to-dot puzzles in this nature-themed compilation will take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete and offer a pleasant diversion from the stresses of everyday life. Subjects include a leopard, a great white shark, a hummingbird and a sloth.

This encouraging guide includes many tips for budding artists, such as how to look properly, simplify what you see but include key features, get the basic shapes correct, and understand how shading can transform your drawing. There are sections on depicting landscapes, animals, people and cartoons, and each is accompanied by step-by-step illustrations showing how to build up your drawings and create texture, while assignments enable you to measure your progress.

Mark Linley reveals the secrets of his craft and provides tips and assignments as he guides readers to produce drawings that capture the essence of a character. From doodling to focusing on facial features, he explains how to caricature friends and famous people. First published in 1999.

Sussex Pottery thrived during the late 18th and early 20th centuries. Small potteries produced ‘brownware’ in the form of flagons, bowls, candlesticks and chamber pots, each piece performing a specific function. With black-and-white photographs, this book, published in 1980, describes the pottery, its makers and the variations in style from one Sussex village pottery to the next. May smell slightly musty due to long storage.

Wendy Jelbert and Ian Sidaway, both experienced artists and instructors, present an accessible introduction to painting in watercolour, with over 25 practical projects as well as a guide to basic materials and techniques. Both sections feature step-by-step photographs illustrating technique and showing the authors’ own works in progress. The projects are designed to use and practise different watercolour skills and are arranged in sections on painting skies, water, trees, flowers, still lifes, buildings and people.

Infantry and cavalry troops of the early 18th-century British, French, Dutch, Prussian and Bavarian armies feature in this volume, as well as regimental flags, artillery and officer figures.

Modelling English, Scottish and Welsh soldiers of the 14th century, the templates in this book also include a castle, siege engines, camp tents and instructions for wargaming medieval battles. Slightly off-mint.