Willow Island Editions

“both useful and a visual pleasure in itself.”

Janis Goodman

“a book encouraging others to look and draw; with much good advice about methods and materials, and how to keep a sketch-book nature diary”

John Busby, RSA RSW SWLA

Drawing on Reserves

GET BACK DOWN to earth next time you visit a reserve: leave the digital camera at home and re-charge your batteries by plugging in to the world of nature.

In this practical guide to drawing wildlife, Richard Bell shows how to keep things refreshingly simple when you set out with pen, sketchbook and watercolours.

Ducks and Dragonflies . . . Flowers and Fruits . . . Landscapes and Lichens . . .

Watercolours . . . sketchbooks . . . nature journals . . . art bag

Drawing on Reserves; review by John Busby

In my childhood I was first drawn to nature by ‘Romany’ on Childrens’ Hour - sound pictures only - before television - but they conjured up strong visual images in my mind’s eye. Children begin to make pictures mostly from imagination, then gradually their eyes become more curious about the real world. The act of drawing makes us all look more closely, and as we draw, the marks on the page take on a life of their own - they recall moments, feelings and discoveries, and open our eyes to see more and more.

Richard is an explorer, another Nomad. His first book; Richard Bell’s Britain touched on many unfamiliar parts of the British Isles. More recent books narrow the field, from the High Peak of Derbyshire, down to a rough patch of garden; always finding fascinating detail to delight in. The latest booklet, Drawing on Reserves, recalls days at Fairburn Ings; RSPB & Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves; Skokholm Island; Texas, and London’s Regent Canal, and it is a book encouraging others to look and draw; with much good advice about methods and materials, and how to keep a sketch-book nature diary.

Drawing uses energy and experience: vital reserves that we draw on in all creative looking.

John Busby is a founder member of the Society of Wildlife Artists

Title: Drawing on Reserves ISBN: 987-1-902467-17-7 Publication: May 2008 Author: Richard Bell Size: 170mm x 120mm Pages: 64pp;full colour watercolours, ink etc. Binding: Paperback Price: £4.99

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Walks around Horbury

Five circular walks in the Calder Valley around this West Yorkshire town.
(This booklet has no ISBN, so is not available through bookshops, except for a few local outlets: Armitages Garden Centre, Shelley; Orchard Bookshop, Denby Dale; Rickaro Bookshop, Horbury; Tourist Information, Wakefield)

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Paperback £1.95

Walks around Newmillerdam

Six circular walks around Newmillerdam Country Park, south east of Wakefield, and in the countryside beyond the park boundaries.
(This booklet has no ISBN, so is not available through bookshops, except for a few local outlets: Armitages Garden Centre, Shelley; Orchard Bookshop, Denby Dale; Rickaro Bookshop, Horbury; Tourist Information, Wakefield)

More

Paperback £1.95

Sketchbook Sushi

Some of these titles are now out of print. I'm hoping to launch a new sketchbook in 2008.

'stone steps, hidden tunnels, bridge arches and a 'canyon' of a railway cutting' Read more

£4.99

A 7 day, 82 mile walk through the Yorkshire Dales. Read more

£4.99

West Yorkshire Pocket Guides

Grandma's Guides; 50,000+ copies sold

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Postage is £2 and any order over £25 is post free anywhere in the world.
You should be able to order most of these books (with the exception of the two walks books) via any U.K. bookseller; please make a note of the ISBN which can be found on the webpage for each title (follow 'more' link). Rickaro Bookshop in Horbury, West Yorkshire stocks a complete range of my books: e-mail Richard Knowles he delivers worldwide.