For those that don't use (or can't afford!) the hideously expensive graphics tools from Adobe et al, there is a new version of
Xara Xtreme that you might want to look at.
For just $79 dollars (under £40 at the moment) you can get a very decent vector graphics program. This makes designing websites and site graphics much easier that trying to use Photoshop (a bitmap editor), and is lightning fast compared to the much more expensive opposition. It also includes a bitmap Picture Editor, and there is a Pro version for $249 that includes some more pro-level tools, but the basic product is well worth the price.
Given the exchange rate, I'd suggest it's well worth a try
(Reviews
here and
here)
