‘Splendid … a tour de force … Its lucid prose, evocative illustrations and handsome production make it a joy to read and savour’ Times Higher Education

An essential guide to the multifarious and increasingly connected world of global art from 1900 to today.

From the 40000-years-old painted caves at Lascaux and the medieval cloth trade to the synthetic chemistry of modern times, colour making has been central to our lives. This book surveys the history of dyes and pigments, the invention of new colours, and the industries that fuelled them.

A beautifully history of imaginary animals from Palaeolithic art to Harry Potter.

A ‘How to’ book featuring painting techniques used by Dutch Renaissance Masters such as Rembrandt and Rubens, Bruegel and Bosch.

Inspired by modern masters, Use This if You Want to Be Great at Drawing is a playful introduction to contemporary drawing styles, techniques and ideas.

This sketchbook features thought-provoking prompts and eye-popping illustrations to sharpen your skills and unlock the outer limits of your imagination.

Far from a free-for-all of random exercises, this book is divided into sections covering essential aspects of drawing such as tone, composition and humour. Accessible, fun and informative, U...

Become a super awesome artist with this fantastic new book. Using real examples of art for inspiration, this great book features 20 exciting art challenges to help you create your own masterpieces. Channel the artistic genius within and you’ll be painting like Pollock, doodling like Duchamp and creating like Kahlo in no time!

* 'Great art has dreadful manners...' Simon Schama observes at the start of his epic exploration of the power, and whole point, of art. 'The hushed reverence of the gallery can fool you into believing masterpieces are polite things, visions that soothe, charm and beguile, but actually they are thugs. Merciless and wily, the greatest paintings grab you in a headlock, rough up your composure and then proceed in short order to re-arrange your sense of reality...' * With the same disarming force,...