Artist's View

Why would I buy this book? Well, like Alice, we all enjoy looking at attractive pictures. A significant section of this work explores the World Heritage site of the City of Durham, showcasing how it appeared before modern developments began to alter the view. If you are an artist interested in discovering the potential of dry coloured pencil, this book answers many of the questions visitors to my exhibitions have asked. I will explain how I achieve such intricate detail and atmospheric effects in my work. I have been drawing with pencil since the early 1950s, and, unaware of any books on the subject at the time, I am essentially self-taught. I use the term 'dry coloured pencil' because many viewers of my work assume it is watercolour. A pencil is a clean and precise medium, ideal for achieving accuracy, where every touch leaves its mark. One visitor once commented that my work 'oozed tranquillity,' drawing them into the scene and enhancing the appeal of the picture. Drawing heightens one's awareness of the many elements that influence the choice and creation of an image. Within these pages, I reveal the techniques I have developed to expand the potential of dry pencil as a medium. I examine the importance of composition, balance, and colour in creating images that are striking enough to be displayed on a wall for years to come.