Tracks: Walking the Ancient Landscapes of Britain

In over 140 superbly reproduced artworks, the artist Philip Hughes records eleven iconic walks across the length and breadth of Britain, from Allt Coire Pheiginn in Scotland to Zennor Head in Cornwall. Inspired and informed by maps, aerial photographs and electronic survey techniques, Hughes's clean, spacious artworks, with their arresting blocks of colour, make contemporary some of the most ancient and formidable landmarks of the British Isles. Hughes's artworks - often incorporating written notes, archaeological scans and contour maps - feature important heritage sites, including Neolithic settlements such as Maes Howe in Orkney, standing stones such as Stonehenge, the Three Peaks in Yorkshire, or places of particular mystery and beauty such as Silbury Hill, the oldest and tallest artificial mound in Europe. Notebook spreads contain exquisite drawings and paintings made on the spot and vivid extracts from Hughes's diaries and notes, help to evoke the mood and atmosphere of the awe-inspiring landscapes. Complete with an enlightening introduction by writer Kay Syrad and short prefaces to each of the sections by Hughes himself, this beautiful, reflective book will resonate with artists, walkers and anyone who shares a love of ancient sites in the landscape.

Table of Contents:
Introduction by Kay Syrad • Orkney [Northern Scotland] • Assynt [Northwest Scotland] Rannoch Moor [Central Highlands, Scotland] • Islay • The West Coast [Southern Hebrides] • Hadrian’s Wall [Northumberland] • The Three Peaks [Yorkshire] • Cornwall South West Coastal Path [Cornwall] • Stonehenge [Wiltshire] • Avebury and Silbury [Wiltshire] • Ridgeway [Wiltshire] • South Downs Way [Sussex]

About the Author :
Philip Hughes is a widely exhibited artist. Born in London he studied at Cambridge University. Self-taught as an artist, his vision has been shaped by extensive travel linked to a preoccupation with the structure of landscape and the archaeology of ancient cultures. Hughes’ work is represented in numerous public collections including The British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and the UK Government Collection in London, UK and the Library of Congress, Washington D.C., U.S.A. He served on the council of the Royal College of Art (1987-1992), on the board of the Design Museum (1990-1996) and as Chairman of the Trustees of the National Gallery (1996-2000).

Review :
'A gem of a book ... would make a thoughtful gift for both the art lover and the map and geography enthusiast alike' - Dunoon Observer & Argyllshire Standard 'Stunning … ramble ancient pathways and feel the history in the landscape' - Family Tree 'Beautifully produced … will appeal to artists, walkers and lovers of the landscape everywhere' - Leisure Painter 'Thames & Hudson’s handsomely produced and engaging book is a perfect window for Philip Hughes’ strange and seductive imagination' - Yorkshire Times