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Since software programmes have come to dominate offices and studios, the pencil has become a symbol for creative freedom and the modern creative's ultimate fetish. This book presents a unique collection of close-up pictures of pencils from some of our foremost artists, designers, writers, architects and musicians. Here is Philippe Starck's stylish black and red, Paul Smith's is a classic jewel-like thing worth £3000 (a present from Jonathan Ive), William Boyd's is nicely aged and rusty, while Anish Kapoor's is sculpted into a mini ArcelorMittal Orbital tower. Other celebrated pencils of leading creatives are from Dave Eggers, Tracey Emin, Christian Louboutin, James Dyson and Cindy Sherman. There is a short interview with David Bailey and the hat designer David Schilling, make-up artist Michèle Burke and British industrial designer Sebastian Bergne, Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park and English cartoonist and illustrator Sir Quentin Blake. There is the pink rubber tip of author Louis de Bernières' pencil, and many quotes like 'The pencil lets us talk without words' and 'I used my pencils until they almost disappear.' Sculptors, fashion designers, here is the HB, 4B and 2B and not 2B, close up and very personal on these beautifully coloured and exquisitely designed 144 pages. Foreword by William Boyd.