Le Jardin du Moulin - Botanist Painting By Numbers

Painting by numbers has had a very well-deserved comeback, and this set from Moulin Roty's "Le Jardin du Moulin" collection is a particularly lovely example of why: three botanical pictures, sixteen paints, and a numbered system that makes the whole thing far less daunting than a blank canvas and far more satisfying than you'd expect. It starts with "I'll just do a bit" and ends with an hour having quietly disappeared and something genuinely beautiful sitting on the table.

We love it because:

• Three botanical pictures to complete means there is plenty to get stuck into, and lovely variety across the set
• Sixteen pots of paint and two brushes included, so everything needed is right there in the box
• The numbered system makes it accessible and un-intimidating, while the results look genuinely impressive
• Moulin Roty's botanical illustrations are beautiful: the kind of thing worth framing when finished
• The focus and calm this produces is remarkable (for children and grown-ups alike, not that we're suggesting anything)
• "Le Jardin du Moulin" packaging makes it a gift that feels considered and special

What's in the box:

• 3 garden-themed pictures to paint (22 x 18 cm each)
• 3 templates
• 2 paintbrushes
• 16 pots of paint

Great for:

• Ages 8 and up (and honestly, grown-ups too)
• Rainy afternoons, school holidays, or any time a long, absorbing independent activity is very welcome
• Children who enjoy art but find a blank page a little overwhelming
• A birthday gift that is genuinely different and produces something beautiful at the end of it
• Concentration, fine motor skills, colour mixing awareness and a quiet kind of creative confidence

Important to know:

• Picture dimensions: 22 x 18 cm
• Made from birch wood, paper and plastic
• Contains small parts: not suitable for children under 3
• Paints are not washable, so old clothes or an apron are a very good idea