Articles

All Art History Blogs Colours

Pink: a colour journey from the peaceful to the political

Blossom, Barbie, punk and pantsuit protests. Climb on board the cultural rollercoaster ride of the colour pink.

Brown: a common colour that’s far from ordinary

The colour brown is all around us. It blends in; it’s often perceived as dull. But its past is full of intrigue, from deep-sea creatures to ground up mummies.

Orange paint with Winsor & Newton tubes, ink and Promarker

Orange: Peeling back the layers of a fruitful history

What was once simply a name for a citrus fruit is now the term used to describe vibrant, sunny orange. The colour has intrigued religions, artists and social movements throughout...

Watercolour through the eyes of the artist: stories behind the sets

With watercolour being many beginner's gateway into painting, that first set will always be special. Hear artist stories about their sacred sets.

All that glitters is gold: a spotlight on the world’s most precious colour

From gold leaf to kintsugi, we explore humankind’s relationship with gold, the world’s most precious colour that has symbolised wealth, opulence and spirituality for millennia.

Purple: an enchanting pigment reserved for royals and rulers

Purple is captivating and enchanting. From deep purple to lilac and ultraviolet, it conjures up ideas of magic, royalty, and psychedelia.

Seeing red: the world’s loudest colour

From star-crossed lovers to samurai armour, explore the cultural impact of red – the world’s boldest colour.

Water-bottle box set and miniature watercolour palettes

Five Winsor & Newton watercolour innovations throughout history

Explore Winsor & Newton's legacy in watercolour innovation, from pioneering moist watercolour cakes in 1835 to crafting the revered Series 7 brushes for Queen Victoria. Our innovations continue to shape...

The Winsor & Newton Paint Tube 1840-1911

The history of the metal paint tube

Discover Winsor & Newton’s pivotal role in the development of the metal paint tube— a revolutionary innovation that transformed the history of art.

Palettes of the masters: JMW Turner

Discover how JMW Turner revelled in experimenting with pigments, from gamboge to ultramarine. Explore how Turner's daring experiments with pigments shaped his iconic landscapes and seascapes – and why not all...