A Shetland Notebook

Slightly disappointed with this as I had seen some of the finished works online before buying. This is a collection of preliminary sketches that I believe were used to work up into finished works by this artist. Most are rather scrawly bits of mark-making. A few are recognisable as places in Shetland (for example The Drongs) while others could be any bit of sea or cliff anywhere. I would only buy this if you were very interested in Ackroyd's methods or in-the-field sketching generally.

As another reviewer said - I was seduced by the front cover. Most images are 'play' work or 'study' work, which is fine of course, but not for somebody to buy as a present for somebody else! I really thought there would be more images with the various lovely moods of the shetland isles. But no. It really is a collection of paint marks. If they were mine I would have been pleased, but I would never have tried to sell them in book form, particularly under the Royal Academy of Arts umbrella.

Wonderful book, a real treat to ponder. Even the pastel shades of the paper used and the splodges of paint are reproduced. With lovely heavyweight paper and good colour reproduction it really feels like you are flicking through Norman's own sketchbook. Love the absence of text, just a pictorial index at the back.

A delightful book of sketches of northern waters and hills, in all weather conditions; The illustrations are good-quality reproductions of what are in the main simple but telling charcoal or soft pencil drawings with added watercolour - I loved it. Thank you.

Love Norman Ackroyd. Beautiful sketchbook

Colours bright and vivid just like looking at real view

A gorgeous, inspirational book. Beautiful, subtle depictions of the landscape of Shetland, and you can tell just how well Mr Ackroyd knows these places. If it doesn't make you want to paint, nothing will!

For anyone who has been to Shetland, this will surely evoke strong memories. For those who haven't, this book might well tempt them to go there and experience what Ackroyd has captured, simply and vibrantly.