Mary is an artist and illustrator based in Suffolk, UK. She specializes in painting natural subjects and has produced artwork for everything from stationery to ceramic tiles. Mary's interest in the outdoors has inspired a number of publications, including The Painted Garden Cookbook (a collection of illustrated recipes that were produced in her own garden) and Dawn to the Country.If you'd like to see more information on the author you can visit her website: www.marywoodin.com.

There are an amazing 60 plants and animals to draw in this book which it shows you in very clear easy steps. This book is a delight for adults and children alike. Beautifully presented with rounded edges and coloured borders, I am surprised it is not more expensive. Not much text but enough to help with each stage. My only criticism and its a minor one, is that I would have preferred it to be all UK species but there are a few that are not.

• Introduction 6How to use this book 7Meadows & Lakeland 8Forest 62Coast 106About the artist 128Acknowledgements 128