I worked in Paris for fifteen years. Long enough to stop looking up at the monuments and start noticing everything else.

That's what this alphabet is. Not a guidebook — the Paris I walked through every day. The grocer putting his crates out at seven in the morning. The green drinking fountain on the boulevard. The small blue plaque with the street name on it. A bouquiniste's box opening onto the quay.

Twenty-six letters, twenty-six watercolours, each one painted by hand.

Every word is in French, and every print comes with a card that tells you how to say it. Bateau-mouche is bah-toh MOOSH. Épicerie is ay-pees-REE. The card also covers the four that catch everyone out — including the one letter you never pronounce, and why a bateau-mouche has nothing to do with flies.

And somewhere in the picture, two pigeons.

Each print is made in my studio, one at a time, on a 100% cotton, acid-free fine art paper with no optical brighteners — so it won't yellow. Signed and dated in pencil in the bottom margin.

For anyone who has lived in Paris, is about to, or has been meaning to go back.

Size — 11 × 17 in (28 × 43 cm), unframed

Border — 1.25 in of white margin all round, ready to frame with or without a mat

Paper — 100% cotton rag, acid-free, 300 gsm, no optical brighteners

Printing — made one at a time in my Culver City studio, not outsourced

Signed — in pencil, with the year

Included — the French pronunciation card for all twenty-six words

Shipping — flat, in a clear sleeve with a rigid backing board