Simon-Martin Banck Books

The natural world as seen through the eyes of British artists including Eric Ravilious, Clare Leighton, and John Piper

Deep in the dense rainforests of Central America lie the turbulent stories of the Maya monarchy. Describing many of their own discoveries, the authors, two of the worlds leading experts in Maya hieroglyphs, take the reader into a once-hidden history, offering information on the nature of Maya divine kingship, statehood and political authority.

This is far from a boring random study with very little research, instead it has been fastidiously put together with full reference and examination of the man and his time on the railway from the period just before Gresley's death and the way in which he handed the batten on to Arthur Peppercorn. after the tumultuous war yearsAlong the way the author brings to life in a truly absorbing manner this important wartime period and how the effects of the conflict steered his judgements, advice and design criteria in a way we think has never been seen before. It is no wonder it was applauded by what many would recognise as potentially Edward Thompson's perhaps harshest critics as devotees of Sir Nigel Gresley's work from members of the Gresley Society.We examine each of Thompson's own designs, and the work carried out on his predecessor's locomotives to bring the best out them and the resources available at the time.

Ancient Maya Politics is distinctive in constituting the first book-length treatment of this issue using original texts to be published in over four decades. With a rich body of new data and a wide-ranging theoretical analysis, it debunks some long-held ideas and suggests fresh ways to look at this long- enigmatic society.

This book spans the last 60 years of printmaking in Britain. Over 100 artists are represented, including Edward Bawden, Enid Marx, Peter Blake, Barbara Hepworth, Lucian Freud, Paula Rego, Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin, Chris Ofili and many more. wood engravings, etchings, lithographs and screenprints

Contemporary British artist Kaye Donachie (b.1970) is best known for her figurative, dream-like portraits of women. Her portraits are not direct representations of her subjects but are "abstract narratives", informed by art and literature by twentieth century women. Often these women have been historically marginalized and include radical writers, activists, poets, and artists. Donachie describes their biographies as "sparse, but that affords a space in which to interpret narratives in my painting and representation." This monograph will bring together a selection of the artist's muted, figurative paintings, exploring the complexities of the muse and female agency in art and literature. It includes an introduction by Simon Martin based on interviews with the artist exploring her engagement with modern art and literature, together with short texts by the artist herself. Exhibition Schedule: Pallant House Gallery, Chichester (April 22-October 8, 2023)

The stunning book on St Jude's artist Mark Hearld and his enchanting, bold visions of the landscapes, plants and animals of the British countryside, presenting some 200 of his popular prints, collages, sketches and textile and ceramic designs