Cornwall Sketchbook

Jim Watson was born and bred in the English Lake District and moved to Rugby at the age of 18 to take up an engineering apprenticeship. He worked as a draughtsman for a few years before leaving to pursue a freelance career drawing kids comics. Since then, Jim has produced a wide range of cartoon and illustrative work for magazines and books. He has written and illustrated around 17 books of his own

Cornwall, one of the Britain's most attractive locations, well deserves a book that compliments its beauty. This is the book! It's 96 full colour pages crammed with superbly drawn sketches accompanied with stacks of information on 44 of the ports and villages scattered along its rugged coastline. Travelling from Boscastle in the North to Polperro in its most South-Eastern corner, it takes in such picturesque spots as Port Issac, St. Agnes, St. Ives, Mousehole, Porthleven, Lizard and Megagisssey, as well the bigger towns of Penzance, Falmouth and Truro, pinpointing historic landmarks and buildings, hidden coves and picturesque walks - as well as noting some of the county's most famed citizens, including the fictional Doc Martin (Port Issac) and authoress Daphne du Maurier (Helford). As its' creator (notes and sketches), Jim Watson hopes that the book will "inform and entertain". It well achieves that purpose and, as a regular visitor to the county, I'll add that he superbly conjures up the spirit of the land and its people. The book is not only a loving testament to the area but also a most useful tour guide, aided by equally well drawn maps, for those making their first journey into the most westerly region of the West Country. Plus the appendix offers a few pointers on aspects of Cornwall - headed, of course, by its famous pasty. Great value for money as author Watson must have spent incalculable hours drawing and detailing the invaluable information. (Tony Byworth, Amazon)