Articles
Colour story: Turner's Yellow
Explore the story of Turner's Yellow, a tribute to JMW Turner’s rebellious spirit and revolutionary masterpieces that were shaped by the Industrial Revolution.
Mummy Brown: The art world’s most morbid medium
Informed by a sample of Mummy Brown from the Winsor & Newton archive, we uncover the pigment’s bizarre and unsettling history, from its origins to its eventual fall from grace.
Colour story: Permanent Mauve
Did you know that mauve was made by mistake? Discover the pigment’s remarkable story that begins with a humble 15-year-old chemistry student, and goes on to feature high fashion, Oscar...
'Why I mix oil colour' with Chloe Scott Moncrieff
Chloe Scott Moncrieff tells her own story of why she mixes her oil colours.
Your top ten watercolour questions answered
In this article, we’ve collated your most popular watercolour questions and answered them all in one handy guide. Bookmark this article for the next time you’re planning to pick up your watercolour...
Winsor & Newton Archive: Items of Intrigue - Portable paint, from pig bladders to paint tubes
Did you know that artists once used pig bladders to carry paint? In our latest Items of Intrigue session from the archives, we look at the evolution of portable paints,...
Winsor & Newton Archive: Items of Intrigue – The colour once more valuable than gold
Ultramarine pigment was historically once more valuable than gold. We take a look at its journey from rare gemstone, lapis lazuli, to the advancement made by chemists to create an...
Colour story: Iron Oxide
Did you know that the iron found in our blood and deep in the Earth’s core is similar to the pigment in Winsor & Newton’s Iron Oxide paint tubes? We...
Colour story: Indigo
From ancient Indian textiles to denim jeans, indigo dye has been a staple through the ages. But when it comes to the colour spectrum it is often missed out. What...
The permanence of artists’ paints in the 19th century
Artists' paints must be permanent, reliable, and modifiable. Historically, many pigments, particularly in watercolour, faded over time. This article examines the reasons behind this and how modern innovations have enhanced...
Colour recipes: How to mix the top six requested colours
Creating a palette involves more than just selecting colours; it’s about mixing them to tell stories and is an integral part of an artist’s DNA. We asked artist Chloe Scott...