In this hectic, high pressure, on demand world, it’s easy to end up with a brain flooded with things to do. When you do get a moment to yourself, how many times have you wished to go back to childhood or a time when things were simpler? Well, fear not, as a stealthy resurgence is now occurring in the art and graphic design world; colouring books are making a comeback! Without being sciency, colouring in allows us to relax and destress by focusing on the task at hand, whilst being free to get creative and use whatever colours (including media) we want! I have been guilty of hunching over a white A4 sheet of paper with a black outline of a lego man at 3am, using the free crayons in 24 hour Mc D’s which to this day fills me with joy and a feeling of freedom! Simple things I know and I have no shame! Here 5 of adult colouring books to help you chill out.

1. Lost Ocean Inky Adventure by Johanna Basford

Created by worldwide bestseller author Johanna Basford, Lost Ocean invites colour-inners of all ages to go underwater from where ever you choose to colour-in. The book also comes with a large double-sided pull-out poster to colour and keep. Get lost under the sea and de-stress as your pencils (or pens) glide over the smooth, untextured ivory paper.

2. Memos to Shitty People by James Alexander

Incompetent co-worker? Annoying neighbour? Rubbish friend? Colour away your frustration with over thirty-five delightful and vulgar phrases you wish you’d said out loud.

Each single-sided page includes such tension-busting phrases as, ‘Seriously, Bitch?’ and ‘Oh look … the fuck-up fairy has visited’ alongside friendly critters and intricate flora to calm your nerves.

WARNING contains seriously colourful language!

3. Swear Words Colouring Book by Outrageous Katie

For those of you who have a passion for spraying a flurry of F bombs, this one is for you!  You can colour in your colourful language and relieve your stresses upon Outrageous Katie’s awesome illustrations. This book decorates offensive expletives with mandalas, animals, ornate shapes and flowers on each page. Obviously this is not for kids so FFS please don’t leave it on the coffee table with the little ones’ copy of Pig Peppa (I know what I said…) magazine!

4. Anti-Stress Colouring: doodle & dream by Christina Rose

“Creativity replaces anxiousness when pencils and pens are put to paper in this intricate collection of illustrations.” I couldn’t have put it better myself! Anti-Stress is just one in a series of doodle & dream coloring books by Christina Rose where each illustration has an inspirationall quote to help shift those dark clouds. This book encourages you to even cut out your final piece and frame it with pride, just like when mum or dad used to stick you picture up on the fridge!

5. The Mindfulness Colouring Book: Anti-stress art therapy for busy people by Emma Farrarons

Good things come in small packages (so they say!) and this is one of the good things. This bestselling adult colouring book is an awesome pocket-sized stress beater. Emma Farraons book is packed full of drawings which allow you to focus on the exercise whilst distracting you from the things getting you down. Whip out your pencil wherever you are, and colour your way to calm!

---

There are plenty of adult colouring books out there waiting to be filled in with colour. If your not sure about the value of colouring in, the next time you’re at a restaurant and you see a kids menu, look around for the crayons. Pick them up and draw on the play sheet! If it doesn’t stress you out from trying to be perfect and keeping between the lines, it may be just the thing for you.

Don’t forget your pencils…

---

Read More