A sudden urge come over me to have a go at watercolour painting, so I went in search of what I thought would be a suitable book to start me on the right track until I could enrol in an evening class. David Bellamy's Watercolour Landscape Course: From First Steps to Finished Paintings looked perfect to me.
I liked the fact that you were not bogged down in painting colour wheels and just mixing colours before you got to paint anything. With just a basic set of colours and a couple of brushes, David encourages you to paint - even on the back on an envelope if you haven't got proper watercolour paper.
The demonstrations are easy to follow and the exercises gradually increase in difficulty to stretch you.
When I did finally join an evening class, the tutor was impressed with what I had achieved from reading a book. I still refer to it on a regular basis for hints and tips. It's well worth a read.