Adults lap up colouring books

ADULT colouring books have become a surprise hit with the first two editions of the Au Pays des Merveilles series selling out – as people find a calm way to switch off from everyday stress.

Each book contains more than 100 black and white drawings by illustrator Carolina Spielmann who says they “free the spirit” as people colour in the drawings and forget about other things.

So far they have sold out of the two first issues with 35,000 sales.

The new books look are titled Escapades Enchantées and Contes & Légendes Extraordinaires giving a chance for buyers to escape to “once upon a time, long, long ago...” and find world capitals, mythical monuments and the gods of Olympus.

Argentian painter Ms Spielmann trained at the Parsons School of Design, Paris and has had several exhibitions across France, most recently in Lille.

On sale in bookshops and superstores, her M6 Editions books cost €11.90.