Where to start! This does not need to be expensive. Basic equipment for this is pretty simple. Like everything we all tend to add here as we go along and get carried away. Different people seem to use different things, so this is a general idea of what one might need to get started.

It does not really matter where you draw, but it is better to find a space where the light is good, whether you use a well lit room or natural daylight. Firstly you really need a palette. I often use a china or enamel plate, any thick sheet of plastic or even glass.

Now you need a selection of basic colour shades, your canvas, different brushes, some medium plus of course some place to stand your work on. It certainly is an asset if you have a roomy container for your paints so you can pick them easily.

So what are you now going to use to put your canvas on. Some people would use an old desk, others a cupboard, shelf or window sill. You need to find somewhere to hand. Then you need some good pencils. Go from HB through to 6B.

I like to obtain pale grey and yet also dark black tones, so for this you need a soft pencil. A Venus 6B is ideal, so I tend to use this, but it needs sharpening a few times! From here you will also need to be able to sharpen your pencils. Men often use a razor blade or penknife. Personally I make sure that I have a strong sharpener.

As for choice of drawing pads it is much easier to buy one with a hard back. Sometimes things go wrong and you do not want to use a rubber. Just take a fresh sheet and begin anew.

Although I have to say I am quite happy with small pads which are easy to carry around with you. Ideal are the pads with ready perforated edges that you can easily tear out. The smoothness of the paper is also a bonus.

Pens themselves can be hard to work with as, for example, a biro pen would not get proper thin or thick lines or produce good variance of shading.

If you go to an art and craft shop or supplier they do stock various pens that you can use with ink or even a felt type nib. Failing this you could use an ordinary fountain pen that you are used to using.

As landscapes are often drawn in the open air you need to wrap up well. Dig out some thick socks, boots probably, your old comfy clothes, as you not only need to be warm, but comfortable also. A flask of coffee might help.

A stool that you might buy in a surplus store or camping shop is easy to carry and needed to sit on. Unless you sit on walls and get a cold bottom! Useful I find too, is to cut a square out of the centre of a piece of cardboard to frame your work as you draw.