Stan Smith had a long pedigree of teaching both art students and amateur artists. He was part-time lecturer at the Royal College of Art and for almost a decade was Head of Fine Art at the University of Oxford. He exhibited regularly in the UK, and was the author of many books on painting and drawing including The Complete Drawing Course.

Materials and equipment; 1 Getting started; 2 Colour; 3 Creating form; 4 Painting texture; 5 Sketches and composition; 6 Still life; 7 Landscape; 8 Figures and animals; 9 Buildings and interiors; 10 Oils in mixed media; Glossary; Index.