Swindon-based high street giant WH Smith has drawn on the trend for adult colouring books by launching its a range of titles in many of its stores.
Querkles, a colour-by-numbers craft series which has already taken Australia by storm, is appearing in 400 WH Smith outlets across the UK this month. 
Sales of such therapy publications for adults have soared from almost nothing to an entire category of titles within the past year.
Titles take the traditional kids’ colouring books to challenging new heights, often with brain-teasers and pictures that must be deciphered by following numbers and codes.
Querkles, which feature number-coded, overlapping circles positioned in a seemly random format, have been a huge hit with Australians, who have taken up their pens and pencils to shade-in and create designs ranging from famous faces to favourite animals.
WH Smith high street brand director Paul Tavener said there seemed to be a desire by many customers to put down their mobile devices and take up the traditional paper-based pastimes that are fondly remembered from childhood.
“The great news is that in the past decade, many more advanced colouring techniques and challenges have been developed which means that our customers can not only relax but also train their creative brain at the same time,” he said.
His views were echoed by Dr Val Huet, chief executive of the British Association of Art Therapists, who added: “Colouring books have enabled many people to connect for the first time with art-making, an activity many had thought beyond their capability. 
“It is great to see that interest in colouring books is progressing as research evidence indicates that creative activities help improve wellbeing and resilience. Books like Querkles increase the choice in ‘pen-and-paper’ creative techniques and will hopefully enable more people to get involved.”
Querkles developer, New Zealand-born graphic-designer Thomas Pavitte, said: “‘I’ve been really surprised by the huge range of people that have appreciated the books and that this has become a grown-up recreation. It’s made the act of being creative open to people of all skill levels – even those who would say they don’t have a creative bone in their body.”
Querkles will be joined on WH Smith shelves by childhood favourite dot-to-dot. Created by artist David Woodroffe, Awesome Dot-to-Dot uses a minimum of 300 dots per picture, with more than 120 intriguing visual puzzles to reveal. WH Smith, which has its headquarters at Greenbridge, is also launching a licensed range of Star Wars origami.
The retail giant operates more than 1,300 stores, primarily in the UK, including 600-plus high street stores and more than 700 units in airports, railway stations, hospitals and motorway service areas.
