The twists and turns in developing the Winsor & Newton logo

When you take a look at the archived examples of the Winsor & Newton logo over the years, you notice that the iconic griffin has been a consistent emblem of Winsor & Newton over the years. However, it has seen many different design iterations.

The griffin was initially selected in 1881, and redesigned many years later in 2013. But why choose a griffin?

This mythological creature is a hybrid animal. It’s a fusion of lion and eagle, and is traditionally depicted guarding treasure. With a lion's body and eagle's wings, the griffin symbolises courage, leadership and strength. For Winsor & Newton, these noble qualities define what it takes to be an artist. And for artists, what better treasure than paint?

But there’s a twist. There is something unusual about the Winsor & Newton griffin. Its body ends not with a lion's form, but with a tail. This artistic license is seen as a nod to Winsor & Newton’s creative flair.