Buy art materials at Stuart R Stevenson

Your author was walking along Clerkenwell Road in heavy drizzle at the end of last week, and was delighted to find shelter at Stuary R Stevenson, a fantastically stocked artist's and gilding materials shop.

Established in 1980, Stevenson's even has a Royal Warrant of Appointment meaning - presumably - that the Queen buys her watercolour pads and calligraphy pens over the counter here, or at least by mail order.

For more, see http://www.stuartstevenson.co.uk/.