The art of paper marbling is ancient. Always beautiful, it is having a renaissance as the author and others try and save this dying art.

Artist and author Lucy McGrath is a contemporary paper artist who specialises in paper marbling. her book is a wonderful introduction to the craft for beginners but takes you on a journey through simple to advanced techniques - most with step by step instructions and photography - plus a range of some of the most beautiful paper marbling today.

The book covers: An Introduction and brief history; Preparation and equipment (with recipes for the thickened water that the paint floats on plus the paints themselves); Planning Your Design (mood boards, colour palettes, testing paint behaviour and paper); Pattern Tutorials (ways of applying paint; Swirl, Git Gel (Turkish traditional pattern), Nonpareil (fine tooth comb use), Spanish Wave, Ebru (flowers on the surface of the water); Advanced Techniques (including figurative images); and finally Uses for the Marbled paper (with bookbinding, origami, collage).

Long overdue, this is an important book to inspire and teach a wonderful craft to a new generation.