What do you think?
Rate this book
A Year Unfolding: A Printmaker's View
'A cosy and delightful book - a real joy to behold.' Daily Mail'A gorgeous book to be treasured' BBC CountryfileA beautifully illustrated guide to nature through the seasons by much-loved printmaker Angela Harding.This stunning work, the first book that is solely dedicated to Angela's art, is a celebration of her beautiful prints, and a glimpse into her detailed and meticulous process.A Year Unfolding is a journey through Angela's year in nature watching the seasons unfold in front of her from her studio in Rutland, and giving the reader detail into how nature transforms and evolves over the course of the year.A Year Unfolding also tells the stories behind some of Angela's most popular images, giving context to Angela's celebrated work, as well as new art created specifically for the book. The beautiful illustrations and evocative imagery of the prose make this the perfect book for Angela's fans and readers and art lovers everywhere.Angela has created the covers for many bestselling books, including The Salt Path and The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn, October, October by Katya Balen, English Pastoral by James Rebanks, Christmas is Murder by Val McDermid and RSPB Birds among many others.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2021
53 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Angela Harding
17 books36 followersAngela Harding is a fine art painter and illustrator based in Wing, Rutland, specialising in lino prints and giftware inspired by British birds and countryside.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 10, 2025
The illustrations and text are Harding’s own. Normally I associate her with book covers for others such as Raynon Winn (The Salt Path), some P. D. James covers, as well as The Thought Fox by Ted Hughes. Her art is lovely and immediately recognizable.
Harding begins the book with a little about her career, life, choices for subjects and a bit of explaination of her usual method of making prints—lino or silkscreen. The main body of the book covers the seasons of the year with its birds, animals and activities. I love her use of Spring green and her ability to show movement in water and wind.
Artwork beyond 5 stars
Text 4ish
Harding begins the book with a little about her career, life, choices for subjects and a bit of explaination of her usual method of making prints—lino or silkscreen. The main body of the book covers the seasons of the year with its birds, animals and activities. I love her use of Spring green and her ability to show movement in water and wind.
Artwork beyond 5 stars
Text 4ish
July 14, 2022
4.5 Stars
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 15, 2022
A beautifully illustrated journey through the year.
February 5, 2022
Не то, чтобы книга в литературном смысле, скорее комментированный альбом. К каждой работе — короткая записка: иногда очень конкретная (эту работу я сделала по заказу того-то, изобразила на ней то-то), иногда общая (источники вдохновения, места, где она наблюдала что-то похожее). Читать подряд не обязательно, можно просто листать в любое время под настроение. Я очень люблю гравюры Хардинг, поэтому для меня целый толстенький альбом — большая радость.
February 23, 2022
A Year Unfolding is a fine survey of Angela Harding's artistry. (She is probably best known as the cover illustrator for The Salt Path and October, October). The book includes lino-cuts and screen-prints and works its way through the seasons. The text is not as strong as the artwork and rarely adds much to the experience of viewing; and is superficial in some cases. Heading Home focuses on a gripping battle between a hobby and swallows. The picture, however, depicts three formalised swallows and the central bird is a pied wagtail! Also, the poetry selections from Edward Thomas sit oddly against Harding's modern views. Her work, with its brilliant attention to line, pattern and rhythm, is far more striking than the fustian ramblings of Thomas.(Maybe this was a cheap alternative. Modern poems more in line with the artwork, say Hughes, will be within copyright and so costly to reproduce). This is a five star production in terms of artwork. So much to enjoy and dwell upon.
April 28, 2023
This book is beautiful. It center's around the author's gorgeous artwork, grouped by season, themed mostly around birds, trees and fields, with some hares and other wildlife. The hardcover edition I got is high-quality and full-color, a pretty thing to behold and flip through.
I got through it very quickly, as it's very heavy on the pictures. The accompanying text was mostly short tidbits about the artwork - "this is a lark, I saw it one morning near the house" type of thing. There wasn't any narrative, the anecdotes were disconnected and not interesting by themselves. It would have helped if the author picked an angle and added some meaning to the content rather than just describing the prints. It could have spoken more about her art process, career and work; or leaned more into a personal/memoir aspect; or gone more in-depth on the theme of nature, village life, something philosophical/contemplative. But it did neither, so the book didn't hold my attention and didn't feel particularly memorable. I even thought to myself - oh, apparently I'm not as into nature as I thought! Lol 😅
February 26, 2023
A beautiful book of prints of wildlife and the natural world.
January 19, 2022
I was bought this book for Christmas as I'm getting into printing. The book is useful as a reference book for images and understanding Angela Harding's style . To begin with I would have liked a bit more about the print making process and how some of the images were put together but I dont think it was ever intended to be that sort of book and other books can provide that technical information. I've read it straight through - the text follows a year season by season but is more a series of anecdotes and explanations of the backgrounds to be prints - so I guess its a book that could be picked up and put down. My rating relates to images and the presentation of the book. I enjoyed it.
November 18, 2021
A stunning book of prints illustrating the author’s activities, and the ongoing changes in the natural environment during the 4 seasons of the year, beginning in the spring and ending in the winter.
September 22, 2024
This is one of the coziest coffee table books I now own, showcasing the artwork of British artist Angela Harding. Harding is best known for her wildlife illustrations and the book delivers on that very aspect with page-full illustrations of her artwork.
In between, the artist herself tells some of the anecdotes and stories behind some of her prints, as well as how her own garden, as well as the nature around her home, inspires her.
Again, it is a coffee table book; it was designed to be pretty. To be picked up now and then, opened on a few random pages and have its' artwork enjoyed. And that, this book does very well (if you are a fan of Angela Harding's work of course)
In between, the artist herself tells some of the anecdotes and stories behind some of her prints, as well as how her own garden, as well as the nature around her home, inspires her.
Again, it is a coffee table book; it was designed to be pretty. To be picked up now and then, opened on a few random pages and have its' artwork enjoyed. And that, this book does very well (if you are a fan of Angela Harding's work of course)
September 13, 2022
He disfrutado tanto este libro. Es mágico, dulce e inspirador. Las ilustraciones de Angela son preciosas y descubrir las estaciones a través de ellas es como un viaje lleno de formas, cantos de pájaro y aromas. Un favorito.
December 11, 2022
Stunning prints and reminded me of home. Surprised to find I would have liked a little more text.
December 20, 2022
Já há muito conhecia e admirava a arte de Angela Harding e quando vi que tinha saído este livro, com muitas das suas obras reunidas e explicadas, como um diário, durante um ano, em que a autora fala sobre as suas observações da natureza... sabia que tinha de o ter aqui na minha estante.
É uma maravilha e reflete a vida da autora, a sua visão e representação na arte da impressão artistica. Trabalhos maravilhosos de gravura são aqui complementados por belos textos.
Adorei.
É uma maravilha e reflete a vida da autora, a sua visão e representação na arte da impressão artistica. Trabalhos maravilhosos de gravura são aqui complementados por belos textos.
Adorei.
June 23, 2024
Great insight into Harding's work. The balance between writing and art was perfect, and both were very well done. Her writing was so descriptive, and her prints always amazes me. Angela's mark making and use of color are so well done
April 27, 2025
It's a wonderful book full of beautiful prints . A book for nature lovers and art lovers alike.
September 18, 2022
A collection of Angela Harding's prints that take you on a journey through the seasons. Each print has a paragraph or so about the image and there are several seasonal poems included. It was interesting to read about the prints inspiration and some seasonal or nature detail about the subject. Many of these images are of Norfolk and Suffolk which were of interest to me being the area where I live and could recognise many local scenes. I particularly love Angela Harding's advent calendars, we have several of these that are carefully kept to occasionally bring out again. We love the nature details of these, the way the doors incorporate birds sheltering in hedges or small furries in an underground nest. So much better than seeing a random unrelated object behind a door.
I borrowed this from the library, it's a lovely book and would make a lovely gift for a nature lover.
I borrowed this from the library, it's a lovely book and would make a lovely gift for a nature lover.
November 5, 2024
This is a beautiful artistic journey through the seasons with the printmaker Angela Harding. Her work, if you have never seen it, combines the cutting of linoleum or vinyl and silk screen. The result is in part bold and crude representations of nature in which color is added to the stark black and white of traditional block printing.
The book takes you on a journey with the artist, on foot, on bicycle, by boat and from the warmth of her home with her observations of nature both big and small. It was fun to learn more about Angela Harding and her process. It was even more fun to gaze at her art, which is filled with observations…and remembrances…like her dad walking in the distance.
“The wind travels too light to shake the fallen birch leaves from the fern…”-excerpt from October by Edward Thomas
“The winds blow fast as the stars are slow.”-excerpt from Out in the Dark by Edward Thomas
I enjoyed seeing some of the wildlife observed in Hardings little part of the world in England.
One of my favorite prints was Cat Amongst the Tulips, which I particularly liked blown up for the Early Spring cover page. I am planning on looking up the Curlew as I am curious what those birds are like and if it is possible that we call them something different across the pond. Another favorite print from this book is The Common. I loved its colors and all of the areas of interest worked into the image…not to mention the textures. I was intrigued by the Mulberry Tree, I wonder what mulberries taste like and if the trees would grow here. I particularly liked all of the images of foxes and hares. My other two favorite prints were Moon Walk, which is filled with interesting nature for your night vision adjusted eyes to see…including foxglove, and Terns at Sea, which is so loaded with texture it’s amazing.
This is a beautiful book and the seasonal layout is really enjoyable, along with the artist’s notes. If you are at all interested in Angela Harding’s art, you will love this book.
The book takes you on a journey with the artist, on foot, on bicycle, by boat and from the warmth of her home with her observations of nature both big and small. It was fun to learn more about Angela Harding and her process. It was even more fun to gaze at her art, which is filled with observations…and remembrances…like her dad walking in the distance.
“The wind travels too light to shake the fallen birch leaves from the fern…”-excerpt from October by Edward Thomas
“The winds blow fast as the stars are slow.”-excerpt from Out in the Dark by Edward Thomas
I enjoyed seeing some of the wildlife observed in Hardings little part of the world in England.
One of my favorite prints was Cat Amongst the Tulips, which I particularly liked blown up for the Early Spring cover page. I am planning on looking up the Curlew as I am curious what those birds are like and if it is possible that we call them something different across the pond. Another favorite print from this book is The Common. I loved its colors and all of the areas of interest worked into the image…not to mention the textures. I was intrigued by the Mulberry Tree, I wonder what mulberries taste like and if the trees would grow here. I particularly liked all of the images of foxes and hares. My other two favorite prints were Moon Walk, which is filled with interesting nature for your night vision adjusted eyes to see…including foxglove, and Terns at Sea, which is so loaded with texture it’s amazing.
This is a beautiful book and the seasonal layout is really enjoyable, along with the artist’s notes. If you are at all interested in Angela Harding’s art, you will love this book.
May 21, 2022
I've seen Harding's work on the cover of Slightly Foxed (Bringing Back the Tree, Winter 2012).
Jacket's back side repeats art shown on endpapers, an expected addition. I've not heard of Sphere before but see it's a subsidiary of Little Brown.
Beautiful prints. I appreciate the index in the back, thumbnails of all the prints, which help one locate one again quickly. I would love to buy an original. How to choose? Best to look for what's available because obviously her originals are in limited supply.
There isn't much text but what's there is just what needs to be: brief background, her artist's statement in a way, and a brief description of her general methods. I hadn't known that artists color lino/vinyl cuts by using silkscreen printing. The color register in couple of her prints (in winter) seemed off, for instance, a winter's tale.
Her Rotate Albion Press impresses literally and figuratively--it's a gorgeous, useful piece of equipment.
Her description of seal watchers misbehaving on Horsey and Winterton beach was upsetting and she did not even spell it out. Most of her nature narrative is free of anxiety. I envy her past biking stamina and adventurous spirit that could set out with a bike and a tent. That is not me, but thank goodness there are adventurer's and artists whose work I can admire and emulate in my small, talentless manner.
Jacket's back side repeats art shown on endpapers, an expected addition. I've not heard of Sphere before but see it's a subsidiary of Little Brown.
Beautiful prints. I appreciate the index in the back, thumbnails of all the prints, which help one locate one again quickly. I would love to buy an original. How to choose? Best to look for what's available because obviously her originals are in limited supply.
There isn't much text but what's there is just what needs to be: brief background, her artist's statement in a way, and a brief description of her general methods. I hadn't known that artists color lino/vinyl cuts by using silkscreen printing. The color register in couple of her prints (in winter) seemed off, for instance, a winter's tale.
Her Rotate Albion Press impresses literally and figuratively--it's a gorgeous, useful piece of equipment.
Her description of seal watchers misbehaving on Horsey and Winterton beach was upsetting and she did not even spell it out. Most of her nature narrative is free of anxiety. I envy her past biking stamina and adventurous spirit that could set out with a bike and a tent. That is not me, but thank goodness there are adventurer's and artists whose work I can admire and emulate in my small, talentless manner.
January 10, 2022
This beautiful illustrated book was my new year treat to myself. I have had my eye on it for a while, I really love Angela Harding’s work which I first came across on the cover of The Salt Path by Raynor Winn.
Angela uses a combination of Lino and vinyl cutting and silk screen to create wonderful imagery and a very distinctive look.
This book moves through the seasons, taking inspiration from the natural world. There are fields, skies, waves and water with birds and wildlife; snapshots of the English countryside that are so calming to look at.
I have a real soft spot for nature writing, literature and illustrations. I’ve spent a few evenings slowly looking through this book and it is one that I will return to through the year.
Angela uses a combination of Lino and vinyl cutting and silk screen to create wonderful imagery and a very distinctive look.
This book moves through the seasons, taking inspiration from the natural world. There are fields, skies, waves and water with birds and wildlife; snapshots of the English countryside that are so calming to look at.
I have a real soft spot for nature writing, literature and illustrations. I’ve spent a few evenings slowly looking through this book and it is one that I will return to through the year.
December 19, 2022
I loved to live through a year with printmaker Angela Harding, as she takes the reader onto a journey to the places she touches down in a year's time and offers insight into how they inspire and influence her art.
This hardcover edition is one of the most beautiful books I own, coloured in white and light blue.
It is a good entry point into Angela Harding's art, as many of her prints are assembled in this book, and to me, they are just beautiful.
This, too, is a book to be savoured, and once it is read, it can be returned to season by season, or just because. It connects to the natural world, offering a moment of beauty, enjoyment and peace.
This hardcover edition is one of the most beautiful books I own, coloured in white and light blue.
It is a good entry point into Angela Harding's art, as many of her prints are assembled in this book, and to me, they are just beautiful.
This, too, is a book to be savoured, and once it is read, it can be returned to season by season, or just because. It connects to the natural world, offering a moment of beauty, enjoyment and peace.
August 28, 2023
This is some beautiful artwork. I think I saw some of her artwork on cards before? And saw this browsing through the library and picked it up for this time in my life in which I am in need of some peaceful and undemanding activities when not working (it's my busiest time of the year right now).
The artist's commentary is not too intrusive or trite; she manages to communicate the serenity that the artwork also communicates, and the love of her subjects. (Sometimes I read people's thoughts on their work and think, stop!! You are ruining it for me! Harding avoided that ;) There is nothing too emotionally demanding here, but lots of gorgeous line and colour and composition.
The artist's commentary is not too intrusive or trite; she manages to communicate the serenity that the artwork also communicates, and the love of her subjects. (Sometimes I read people's thoughts on their work and think, stop!! You are ruining it for me! Harding avoided that ;) There is nothing too emotionally demanding here, but lots of gorgeous line and colour and composition.
May 14, 2024
The first time I saw an example of Angela's stunning work was on the cover of the novel October, October by Katya Balen. I then started to notice it on other covers of some non-fiction books. When I saw this book at a local library I was so pleased to borrow it to bring home and browse. Among my favourite of her illustrations were the ones of foxes and whippets, but they are all so eye-catching. I'm going to have to buy my own copy of it.
August 1, 2022
I often find myself buying Angela Harding's greetings cards featuring her prints. This is a beautiful book which reveals a bit about Angela's inspiration and process over the course of a year and reflections upon recurring themes and motifs that feature in her work. Perfect for reading at any time of the year and featuring lots of beautiful prints.
January 30, 2023
I adore this book. The artwork is beautiful and Angela’s charming words describing the nature of her beloved England were such a joy to read. She has a new book coming out soon that I am really looking forward to as well. I highly recommend this book if you love art, nature, the English countryside, or all of the above like me.
December 12, 2023
A beautiful book. While the text could've benefitted from a critical edit for flow and punctuation (not to mention to add a narrative), the illustrations on the pages are absolutely stunning. Angela Harding is one of my favourite artists – and this collection shows that her work is truly exceptional. 4.5 stars
January 3, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful - full of vitality and joy - and I also enjoyed reading Angela Harding's straightforward reflections on nature and life. Wonderful - makes me want to go outside and look at everything nature has to offer.
January 5, 2023
Reaffirmed my love for nature, especially birds.
Love all the illustrations and nature stories.Reaffirmed my love for nature over humans.Very inspired by Angela to read about and study nature more.
Love all the illustrations and nature stories.Reaffirmed my love for nature over humans.Very inspired by Angela to read about and study nature more.
July 13, 2025
Angela Harding is a talented printmaker and her beautiful prints have a lot of energy in them. Her descriptions of the events she witnesses during the seasons feel just right. She makes it look easy.
December 29, 2021
Beautiful from the first page to the last!
February 27, 2022
No tiene mucho texto, pero las ilustraciones son maravillosas. Para los amantes de la naturaleza, la campiña inglesa y los grabados.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews