For centuries artists have found inspiration in the Norfolk landscape. The legacy of the great John Crome and John Sell Cotman has passed seamlessly through the centuries down to Munnings, Seago, and now to their modern contemporaries.

The artists whose work appears in this book are part of this long tradition. Their images have been selected to portray something of the varied range of contemporary work being created in Norfolk today. Each in their own distinctive way, captures the essence of the county.

The diversity of styles included here is deliberate, as is the variety of the media in which each artist has chosen to work; traditional watercolours and oils vying with acrylics and mixed media works.

The artists whose work is selected are among literally hundreds of present-day painters and photographers who are inspired to capture the elusive qualities of light, atmosphere and character that make Norfolk so special. They have been chosen as they are among the best known in the county and most have their homes and studios here.

What these artists also have in common is their link with the Picturecraft Gallery in Holt whose innovative approach to promoting the best in regional art has put them at the forefront of commercial galleries for almost four decades.

Address books tend to be well used and have a long life. Along with important contact details, they keep track of the user’s friends and acquaintances, tracing their lives over time and from place to place. And, if properly attended to, an address book eventually becomes something of a journal in itself, and an essential part of the household management. Whether bought for your own use, or received as a gift, this address book with its superb illustrations will provide years of pleasure.

Imprint: Halswood Stationers. ISBN 978 0 85717 031 6, hardback, 214x230mm, 112 pages. Published May 2010.