Hockney: The Biography by Christopher Simon Sykes

Anyone with an interest in art, the art scene or just interesting artists will want a copy of Hockney: The Biography by Christopher Simon Sykes, which is published in hardback on November 24th by Century.

It's actual part one, but to be honest, almost certainly the most interesting part. We're talking 1937 - 1975, taking in Hockney's start at Bradford Art College, his rise to fame in the swinging sixties, along with the friendships and relationships from that era, as well as his relocation to California and the cool of the swimming pool series of paintings, not to mention his set designs and major retrospective exhibitions.

It shouldn't pull any punches either, with writer Sykes being given 'exclusive and unprecedented access 'to Hockney's extensive archives, notebooks and paintings. He's also got interviews with family, friends and Hockney himself, should you be worried that this is some kind of unofficial profile.

Coming in at 368 pages, the book is available discounted at Amazon right now for £16.69.

Find out more at the Amazon website