Good contre-jour - painting into the light - artworks cause the viewer to squint, with light seeming to glow from the canvas.

They can look like a kind of magic, with their hazy light and colour singing out.

This book demystifies lighting in oils, and provides a practical guide to the process, showing exactly how to create the illusion.

No matter the subject, the art of sparkling contre-jour begins with careful observation of colour values and temperature - but knowing what you are likely to be seeing is key.

The book includes information on simplification, tone, capturing accurate colour, working indoors and out, landscapes, still life, how to create atmosphere, create the illusion of space and much more.

Through step-by-step painting demonstrations and clear, illustrated methods of working, renowned artist Jenny Aitken's first book will show how to bring every painting to life with light.

A section on troubleshooting tricky paintings will show the reader every painting is salvageable, but with an understanding of light and colour, it's much more likely that they'll find success the first time round.

Aimed at the 25k+ amateur artists who follow Jenny online and those who belong to the hundreds of art societies and clubs she has visited to teach over my 25 years as a professional artist.