The artwork of Matthew Rice is always sure to draw me in to any book, and as this is a tale about nature and gardening through the seasons from his own property in the Cotswolds, well, I was hooked! Published later this week, I was lucky enough to get an early copy...

Matthew Rice bought Ham Court in 2012 and, with his then wife Emma Bridgewater, started turning it into their family home.

It is an estate in the village of Bampton in the Cotswolds and spans several acres, encompassing remnants of the medieval Bampton Castle. There's a garden, an orchard, paddock, greenhouse and small farmyard. And it's all represented here in his distinctive style.

Though Matthew does take photographs, they wouldn't do for telling this story, he says. Drawing, and painting, requires a much closer attention and analysis. 

There are pictures of flowers, vegetables and animals, property and architectural features. There's even an 'A-to-almost-Z' of different breeds of chickens. It's all beautiful and joyful. And the most pleasing images for me are the potting shed, the dresser and the kitchen shelf. 

In this very personal account of a year in his garden, Matthew Rice shares his experiences of planning, planting and harvesting. He tells us what has gone wrong, and his satisfaction when things go well. There's practical advice, anecdotes and some recipes too. It's a very beautiful book which lifts the spirit with each turn of the page.