Books

ADVENTURE BRITAIN

ADVENTURE BRITAIN – BOOK – DEMI TAYLOR

The ethos is about getting out there and experiencing Britain’s natural heritage without leaving a lasting impression on it.

THE IDEA

Demi Taylor conceived the idea to write the essential guide to the best outdoors adventures in the UK. The book would draw together insightful editorial, with indispensable advice from leading experts, illustrated with evocative photography.

THE RESULT

Adventure Britain was conceived and written by Demi Taylor. This groundbreaking 320pg guide to the best in action sports and outdoors adventuring was published by Footprint Handbooks.

Picture edited by Demi Taylor featuring phots by the author plus images from the cream of UK photographers.

THE APPROACH

From ideation, research and flat planning through to commissioning editorial and photography and writing, Demi oversaw the project from beginning to end. Broken down by region, she selected the best outdoors adventures including surfing, wild swimming, climbing, mountain biking, foraging and walking. Demi took to the seas and slopes, talking to experts in each field in order to recommend the best challenges in each location. Drawing in the experience, knowledge and passion of those who spend their time reconnecting with the wild landscapes around the UK the book combines inspiration and information with the ultimate ethos of enjoying all that British landscape has to offer in a low impact way.

Adventure Britain - the best active escapes by Demi Taylor. Mountain Biking South Downs Way

Our island is an alluring array of tarn-decked peaks and depressions. It is riven with rivers and interlaced by a spiders web of trails and paths exploring hidden. There are wooded pockets and deep valleys connecting vast open tracts, where village inns are reassuring beacons of hope and refreshment. The coastline is a confusion of hard edges, soft sands, sheer cliffs and shapely dunes. Vast bays neighbour coves whose secrets are only revealed to those willing to wait for the ebbing tide…

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AROUND THE GROUNDS

AROUND THE GROUNDS – BOOK – CHRIS NELSON

Immaculately well researched, beautifully put together and with a unique approach, Around The Grounds is the ultimate tool for seasoned away fans.
The Scratching Shed, LUFC

THE IDEA

Chris Nelson conceived the idea to write the essential guide to the 92 clubs and grounds of the top divisions of the English football league told though insightful editorial, unrivalled essays, interviews and images.

THE RESULT

Around the Grounds was conceived and written by Chris Nelson. This groundbreaking 264pg critically acclaimed guide to clubs and grounds was published by Footprint Handbooks.

Picture edited by Demi Taylor featuring images from the cream of international photographers.

THE APPROACH

With a life long love of the beautiful game, Chris guided the project from ideation and conceptualisation through research, writing and commissioning. Broken down by club, he told the story of each hallowed ground, celebrating the victories and commiserating the losses both on and off the pitch. Bringing to life defining moments, legendary characters and little known facts and stats Chris delivers a unique insight into the life and personality of each team as well as those who support them.

No one knows a football club better than their most ardent supporters. As a result, Chris approached club members, fans, bloggers and fanzine editors for additional insights. They shared not only their experience, knowledge and passion for the clubs but also essential travel info and pre-match rituals including details on where to score the best pints and pies.

Chris commissioned additional stories, ‘Tales from the Terraces’, written by fans for fans and worked with picture editor Demi Taylor to scour archives. They sourced the very cream in football photography to help bring the book to life, making this a true fans guide to English football.

This book combines contemporary design, knowledgeable and passionate writing, classic images from past and present. The whole book is a highly entertaining read that really gives an insight into what makes other teams and their supporters tick. I must admit I struggle to put it down once I pick it up!
TrueColours

Amazing. Around The Grounds is full of brilliantly selected, wonderfully diverse and exquisite images that show something of extraordinary interest or capture a fragment of a club’s soul.
Amber Nectar

AROUND THE GROUND
FLICK THROUGH

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SURFING THE WORLD

SURFING THE WORLD – BOOK – CHRIS NELSON & DEMI TAYLOR

So well researched, written and photo edited, it’s gotta be close to the best surf guide book I’ve ever seen.
Australian Surfing Life Magazine

THE IDEA

A dream tour around the planet’s best 80 waves as told though essays, interviews and images.

THE RESULT

Surfing The World conceived and written by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor. This ground breaking 320pg best selling and critically acclaimed dreamers guide to the planet’s very best surf spots was published by Footprint Handbooks.

Picture edited by Demi Taylor featuring images from the cream of international surf photographers.

Best selling 320 pg full colour book on sale world-wide

Translation rights sold.

THE APPROACH

A dream tour around the planet’s best 80 waves… Yeah, you got us. We know the idea of ‘the best’ anything is a subjective one and while there can never be one definitive list of the best waves, we tried to get as close as possible by condensing the perspective of the wider surf community.

Through our contacts, we spoke to everyone from emerging talents to surf legends as well as fellow surf writers, editors, photographers and industry bigwigs from around the globe to get their take on the best waves out there and what makes them so good.

Some are waves that defined an era or a year, a few are forgotten treasures, while others are destined to become future classics. Draw up a list of your own top 10 waves and then get out there and ride them. This is the golden age of the surf trip. Your dream wave is a lot closer than you think.

In 320 pages, ‘Surfing the World‘ combines in-depth, accurate surf information, analysis of the waves and how they work, where they fit in terms of geography, history and culture, unearthing those personalities who have taken on and pioneered the breaks, telling tales of exploration and adventure accompanied by beautiful photography from surfing’s leading lensmen.

From ideation though development of the concept, research, writing, commissioning photography to guiding advertising and securing brand partnerships, we were involved in the whole process through to delivery.

320 pages that will have you packing your bags and out of the door before you even get halfway through it… buy it, and then get out there yourself.
ZigZag Magazine

THE REVIEWS – SURFING THE WORLD

“So well researched, written and photo edited, that it’s gotta be close to the best surf guide book I’ve ever seen.” ASL

” 320 pages that will have you packing your bags and out of the door before you even get halfway through it… buy it, and then get out there yourself.” Zigzag Surfing Magazine

“Beautiful publication combines lush photography with information and anecdotes… a must for both the daring and the dreamers amongst you.” Stranger Magazine

“Good in the travel bag or just as useful on the coffee table. ” **** Tracks Magazine

SURFING THE WORLD
FLICK THROUGH

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SURFING EUROPE

SURFING EUROPE – BOOK – CHRIS NELSON & DEMI TAYLOR

An invaluable resource – a one-stop guide to surfing across the continent.
Surfer Magazine

THE IDEA

To produce the ultimate guide and total resource to surfing and travelling in Europe. Original concept by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor.

THE RESULT

Surfing Europe conceived and written by Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor. This groundbreaking 400pg full colour, best selling surf and travel guide, covers the Atlantic coastline of Europe and Morocco, combining practical information, anecdotes, tales and stunning photography. Published by Footprint Handbooks.

Picture edited by Demi Taylor featuring images from the cream of European surf photographers.

Critically acclaimed, 400 pg full colour book.

2 Editions published

THE APPROACH

This is the one that set the hook, the one we left the 9-5 of desk jobs for. Starting September 2001, we embarked on a year long road trip; surfing, charting, researching and exploring the coastline of Europe – finding out all the information a travelling surfer really wants including: the best places to surf, sleep, eat and drink, where to get your board fixed and what to do on the inevitable flat days.

Simply put, we wanted to create a innovative book that was all about maximising water time – helping surfers spend more time surfing and less time searching, whether they’re looking for where to score the best waves on the day or the best places to kick back and relax – and that book became ‘Surfing Europe’.

Taking in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Spain and the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco and Italy, ‘Surfing Europe‘ combines in-depth, accurate surf information and mapping, surf travel essentials and Surfers Tales – horses mouth stories of adventure bringing the coastline to life. From ideation to delivery, we conceived this durable, heavyweight to go the distance, so the book fits into any glove box making it the essential companion for anyone serious about surfing in Europe. The revolutionary format we created for publishers Footprint Handbooks spawned an entire series of activity guides.

An indispensable guide to any Euro jaunt.
Carve Magazine

THE REVIEWS – SURFING EUROPE

“Hailed as the new surfer’s bible.” Extreme Sports Channel

“The best surf guide to Europe ever published: concise, very informative, beautifully designed and illustrated and easy to consult.” Surf Portugal Magazine

“The most up to date guide to surf in Europe.” Trip Surf Magazine

“An indispensable guide to any Euro jaunt.” Carve Magazine

“A one-stop guide to surfing across the continent.” Surfer Magazine

“Will have you packing your bags and planning your next trip” ZigZag

SURFING EUROPE
FLICK THORUGH

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COLD WATER SOULS

COLD WATER SOULS – BOOK – CHIS NELSON

COLD WATER SOULS

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Superb – a testament to the spirit of the surfers who are out there year after year, building the world’s frigid beauty into the stuff that fires the soul.
The Surfer’s Journal

Cold Water Souls: In Search of Surfing's Cold Water Pioneers written by Chris Nelson exploring Nova Scotia, Hokkaido, Scotland, Alaska, Iceland and beyond. — Image: Tim Nunn

THE IDEA

Chris Nelson conceived the idea to write a book unearthing the tales of cold water surfing’s pioneers.

THE RESULT

Cold Water Souls: In Search of Surfing’s Cold Water Pioneers written by Chris Nelson – a ground breaking 280pg full colour, critically acclaimed non-fiction book. Published by Footprint Handbooks.

The book explores the frigid line ups of Nova Scotia, Hokkaido, Scotland, Alaska, Iceland and beyond, bringing to life the tales of the surfers that call these places ‘home’.

Picture edited by Demi Taylor featuring images from the cream of international surf photographers.

Critically acclaimed, 280 pg full colour book

THE APPROACH

Chris Nelson grew up surfing the frigid reefs of England’s northeast coast, where winter water temperatures regularly dip below 5 degrees.

Cold Water Souls is a book of our times. It is an anthropological study of the world’s most inhospitable line ups – North East England, Scotland, Nova Scotia, Vancouver Island, USA, Alaska, Hokkaido, Iceland and beyond – and the surfers that call these waves ‘home’.

Chris’s international reputation as a respected surf and travel writer allowed access to communities whose stories had been previously untold. He travelled to inhospitable shores glazed in ice and beaches hidden beneath snowdrifts. He broke bread with biker gangs in Japan and talked story with nuclear engineers in Scotland, unearthing tales of communities across the globe whose surf culture runs counter to popular wisdom. Blending travel tales, history, and cultural references with never before heard tales of cold water surfing’s pioneers and photography from the world’s leading lensmen, Cold Water Souls is a critically acclaimed story of surfing’s final frontiers as told through its waveriding community.

A rich and beautiful book… Good reading and good looking – definitely one for the collection
The Surfer’s Path

Cold Water Souls in Search of Surfing's Cold Water Pioneers written by Chris Nelson Japanese surfer Taro Tamai image Richie Hopson — Image: Richie Hopson

THE REVIEWS – COLD WATER SOULS

“I’ve been captivated by (Chris Nelson’s) untold stories of weathered pioneers. A unique mix of historical and contemporary non-fiction, I recommend this book to anybody looking for peelers on roads less travelled” Cyrus Sutton, Korduroy TV

“The best surfing book to ever come out of the UK, it easily stands shoulder to shoulder with the best pieces of surfing literature on a global level.” Wavelength

“If you want to be regaled with inspirational tales of those on the vanguard of surfing’s latest evolution, start reading.” SBC SURF Pick of the Literature

“A genuine masterpiece of surf publishing that will whet your appetite for something different.” Drift

”Nelson has produced a beautiful read…grab a copy of Cold Water Souls. This book is too plain cool.” ESM

“Chris Nelson’s excellent book Cold Water Souls, (is) an exploration of the way the sport of surfing has spread from its warm-water genesis points to more frigid corners of the world.” The Scotsman

“A book of frozen treasures… championing the maverick spirits and unexpected beauty of these harsh environments.” Cooler Magazine

COLD WATER SOULS
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