As the vogue for more imaginative forms of interior design and decoration grows stronger, mural painting and trompe l"oeil in particular have enjoyed a major revival. More and more people are turning their hands to these old and varied forms of art. Now, with this guide to aspects of mural painting, even the most uninteresting of walls can be transformed. Timothy Plant combines practical instruction and personal experience to demonstrate the skills of his ancient profession. There is information about how to prepare walls for painting, the materials needed, how to hide or emphasize architectural features and tips for putting the techniques into practice using a range of styles from Mannerism to Rococco. The skills behind trompe l"oeil, or illusion painting, are also explained for the alteration of dimensions and atmosphere of any room or external space surrounded by walls.