The beauty of illumination has been treasured from the Middle Ages to the present day. Now this invaluable book brings together all the skills and ideas you will ever need to create exquisite designs of your own.Patricia Carter shows how to enhance calligraphy, texts and a host of other decorative items using watercolour and gouache. Seven complete alphabets are included to enable you to paint stunning capital letters and there are many glorious borders, from classic styles to modern, from simple to more intricate.History and nature are Patricia's main source of inspiration and her enthusiasm will inspire artists and calligraphers alike to illuminate their work with colourful, creative designs.This book includes borders, alphabets, decorative initials and monograms. The techniques include gilding, stippling, applying colour and shadowing. Learn how to create stylised, floral, ribbon and illustrated designs.