Oliver Preston – illustratör

'Have I remembered everything?''What shall I wear?''Who am I likely to be shooting alongside?''Will the dog behave?''Will the birds be there?'These are all questions that might keep the Gun, the picker-up, the keeper and anyone else connected with a day's game shooting awake the night before a much anticipated day.'Why did I say that?''Why did I do that?''Why did my dog do that?''Why did I think about the weather?''What was I thinking?'These are all questions one might ask oneself the evening after!Fortunately, you are not alone in your nightmares! If you've ever encountered a particular incident or experience on the shooting field, whether it be a formal day, or as a rough shoot with a couple of friends, it's a fairly safe bet that others will have it too.The Imperfect Shot illustrates in words and cartoons, light-hearted errors and ill-judgment of those who have experienced minor faux pas and misdemeanours on the shooting field — and also glorifies those who have got the better of a particular situation!There are, among its pages, real pearls of wisdom; there is, though, much advice written somewhat 'tongue-in-cheek'. All immediately bring a mental picture to mind.A mental picture is not, however, required. The illustrations, brought to life by renowned country and field sports artist, Oliver Preston — himself a shooting man of no ill-repute — has negated the need for the cry which otherwise might go out: 'Oh, if only I had a camera!' As if the situation was not clear enough, Oliver adds more.Some tales might, of course be apocryphal — and I'll leave it for the reader to decide which they might be!

As Roger Morgan-Grenville prepares for a new season with the White Hunter Cricket Club, he is starting to feel his age, so he embarks on a secret plan of coaching, yoga and psychology to improve his game. Will he emerge as a sporting demigod, or will his teammates even notice the difference.This is the humorous and heartwarming story of that cricket season, as the White Hunters go from disaster to triumph. It is a tale of competitiveness, suspense, excellence, hospitality and incompetence, such as the missing fielder found asleep in the woods and the two opening bowlers whose MG Roadster breaks down on the way to the game.From the Castle Ground at Arundel to a field next to a nudist camp in France, players such as the Tree Hugger, the Gun Runner, and their wicket-keeper, the Human Sieve, share the dream that this might be their day. Above all, it is the uplifting story of friendship among a team of not-very-good players who find enough moments of near brilliance to remind them why they turn up for more, game after game, season after season.

Hidden within normal English is a separate language still spoken by those born with silver spoons in their mouths. It’s called Posh. A word of English can be spelt the same but mean something completely different in Posh. If you say the word ‘Mention’ in English, people will understand ‘Remark upon’; but in Posh this means a large house. Say ‘Ace’ and speakers of Posh will think you are referring to a cold thing one’s butler puts in a G&T.Hugh Kellett hilariously captures the spirit and nuances of those who speak Posh and, allied with Oliver Preston’s brilliantly accurate cartoons, this book is the key to understanding and interpreting this language – literally with tongue-in-cheek.

A step by step guide to modern shooting etiquette stuffed full of amusing quotes and anecdotes, which will instruct the Gun on how to be the perfect guest out shooting – and hence, how to be asked again. Inspired by the fact that so many more people are taking up shooting as adults and may have missed out on the vital apprenticeship in the field as a child, it encapsulates everything you need to know but no one will ever tell you out shooting as ‘you are just expected to know’.The book covers in a logical way what happens, or should happen: from the moment you receive a shooting invitation, to arriving at the shoot, shooting safely and courteously, how to hold your own, how to mark your birds, what never to say and how to tip the keeper. Much of this information comes from almost a hundred interviews with beaters, keepers, flankers, pickers-up, shoot organisers, shoot owners, and grouse moor owning earls and dukes. Hilarious cartoons by Oliver Preston make this a very entertaining book on shooting, the perfect gift for any shooting man or woman, either novice shot or experienced Gun.