This handsome book (it will look great on that coffee table!) first shows you what you need to buy, and fortunately this artist thinks that you might have a budget. That is practically a first for an art book, and a great start. I always wonder why a beginner would want to jump in and buy artists’ grade paints, when student grade paints for beginners are available. I like the way Mr Davies shows the various watercolour techniques with a minimum of fuss and some clear staged pictures. As to drawing the beasties, why not look at real animals and see how they sleep or sit or jump, and use some of their features for your dragon too? Add some scales, or perhaps a hide, and what about a background? Before long I had a picture almost ready and without spending too much time sitting and chewing my pencil, proving that this is a good primer to get the creative juices flowing. There are even two studies to work through, which is always a help with this type of book. In short, the artist has packed a lot into a few pages.