Reeves and Sons
Reeves and Sons is an English art-materials brand known for its watercolour and acrylic paints.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Reeves and Sons is an English art-materials brand and manufacturing business founded by William Reeves in 1766. Its historical activities included the production of pigments, oils, resins and prepared artists' colours, but its best-known contribution was the development and commercial production of soluble watercolour materials. The company is commonly associated with the emergence of ready-made watercolour paint cakes, which allowed artists to use prepared pigment and binding medium rather than mixing these components themselves. Reeves introduced its watercolour paint cakes in 1780. The cakes used honey in the formulation, helping retain moisture while supporting durability. This format made watercolour more convenient and portable and contributed to the company's growth among artists and other users of painting materials. A Reeves paint box associated with Isaac Smith, a relative of Captain James Cook, is recorded as having been used during the first voyage of HMS Resolution from 1772 to 1775. The box contained twelve colours, a mussel shell for mixing, two ivory brush stands and seven brushes, illustrating the early connection between Reeves materials and portable artistic practice. The business operated under several names as ownership and partnerships changed. These included Thomas Reeves and Son from 1784 to 1799, W. J. Reeves from 1799 to 1800, Reeves and Woodyer from 1800 to 1816, Reeves, Woodyer and Reeves from 1817 to 1818, W. J. Reeves and Son from 1819 to 1829, and Reeves and Sons from 1830 to 1890. The company subsequently traded as Reeves and Sons Ltd from 1891 to 1976. These successive names reflect the firm's long continuity as a family-linked and partnership-based manufacturer rather than a single unchanging corporate structure. In 1974, the company was acquired by Reckitt and Colman. The ownership change occurred during a period in which historical Reeves catalogues and materials were reportedly given to the Museum of London. Reckitt and Colman later acquired Winsor and Newton in 1976, placing two notable names in artists' materials within the same broader corporate history. In 1991, ownership of the Reeves brand was acquired by Lindéngruppen through ColArt, a Swedish-linked art-materials group that later became a certified B Corporation. The Reeves name was revived as an actively used brand in 1995. In its modern form, the brand is best known for Reeves-branded artists' acrylic and watercolour paints and is positioned toward beginners, hobbyists and general users of art materials. Its historical importance rests on the transition from artists preparing colours themselves to the use of commercially prepared, portable watercolour cakes, while its current identity is associated with accessible and introductory painting supplies. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current headquarters, detailed country-by-country market footprint, executive roster or independent listed-company status for Reeves itself.
History
William Reeves established the Reeves business in England in 1766. The company developed and manufactured materials used by artists, including pigments, oils and resins. Its most consequential product development was soluble watercolour. Reeves watercolour cakes were introduced in 1780 and supplied pigment together with binding medium in a prepared, portable form. The use of honey helped the cakes retain moisture and remain durable. This eliminated much of the preparation required when artists mixed pigments and binders themselves. The historical importance of the Reeves format is also illustrated by an early portable paint box associated with Isaac Smith, a relative of Captain James Cook. The box was reportedly used during the first voyage of HMS Resolution between 1772 and 1775 and contained twelve colours, a mussel shell for mixing, two ivory brush stands and seven brushes. The example reflects how prepared artists' materials could support travel and field work, although the precise relationship between the box's date and the later commercial introduction of Reeves cakes should be treated as a historical detail requiring careful source interpretation. The business changed names repeatedly as family members and partners entered or left the enterprise. It was known as Thomas Reeves and Son from 1784 to 1799, W. J. Reeves from 1799 to 1800, Reeves and Woodyer from 1800 to 1816, Reeves, Woodyer and Reeves from 1817 to 1818, and W. J. Reeves and Son from 1819 to 1829. The name Reeves and Sons was used from 1830 to 1890, followed by Reeves and Sons Ltd from 1891 to 1976. The sequence records the evolution of the enterprise across more than two centuries while preserving the Reeves name. Reckitt and Colman acquired the company in 1974. The acquisition was followed by the reported gifting of Reeves catalogues and other material to the Museum of London. Reckitt and Colman acquired Winsor and Newton two years later, in 1976. In 1991, Lindéngruppen acquired ownership of the Reeves brand through ColArt. ColArt became the corporate vehicle through which Reeves continued within a larger group focused on artists' materials; the group is described in the reference material as a certified B Corporation. The Reeves name was revived for active commercial use in 1995. The modern brand is primarily associated with watercolour and acrylic paints. Reference material characterizes Reeves as suitable for beginners and hobbyists, indicating an accessible rather than highly specialized positioning. The available record does not provide enough information to identify a current standalone corporate headquarters, a complete executive team, detailed product specifications, current distribution countries or recent financial performance. Reeves should therefore be understood as a historically significant English artists' materials brand operating within the ColArt and Lindéngruppen ownership structure, rather than as a separately documented public company.
- 1995
Reeves brand revived
[1]The Reeves name returned to active commercial use.
- 1991
Brand ownership passes to Lindéngruppen through ColArt
[1]Lindéngruppen acquired the Reeves brand through ColArt.
- 1976
Reckitt and Colman expands in artists' materials
[1]Reckitt and Colman acquired Winsor and Newton after acquiring Reeves.
- 1974
Acquisition by Reckitt and Colman
[1]Reckitt and Colman acquired the company.
- 1891
Company becomes Reeves and Sons Ltd
[1]The business adopted the Reeves and Sons Ltd name, used through 1976.
- 1830
The Reeves and Sons name begins
[1]The business began using the Reeves and Sons name, which it retained until 1890.
- 1780
Watercolour paint cakes introduced
[1]Reeves introduced prepared watercolour cakes combining pigment and binding medium, with honey used to support moisture retention and durability.
- 1766
William Reeves establishes the business
[1]William Reeves founded the English art-materials business that later became associated with the Reeves and Sons name.
Products and positioning
An accessible artists' materials brand with a long English history, particularly associated with prepared watercolour and acrylic paints for beginners and hobbyists.
Watercolour paints · 1780
Reeves watercolour paint cakes
Prepared watercolour cakes were the product most closely associated with the company's historical growth. Introduced in 1780, they combined pigment and binding medium in a ready-to-use form, reducing the preparation required from artists. Honey was used in the formulation to help retain moisture and support durability. The format also made colours suitable for storage and transport in portable paint boxes.
Watercolour paints
Reeves artists' watercolours
Watercolour remains one of the core categories associated with the modern Reeves brand. The brand's accessible positioning makes these materials relevant to beginners, hobbyists and general users seeking prepared artists' colours. Public reference material does not specify the full current range, formulations or individual product names.
Acrylic paints
Reeves artists' acrylics
Reeves is also known for artists' acrylic paints. These products extend the brand beyond its historical watercolour specialization while retaining its accessible, introductory orientation. Available reference material does not establish the complete current acrylic assortment, packaging formats or technical specifications.
Artists' raw materials
Reeves pigments, oils and resins
Historical Reeves manufacturing included pigments, oils and resins in addition to prepared paints. These materials formed part of the broader production base of the company, although the available reference does not establish which of these categories remain commercially available under the contemporary brand.
Brand decisions
1995
Revival of the Reeves brandStrategyBackground
Following the change in ownership through ColArt, the historic Reeves name was available for renewed commercial use.
Action taken
The Reeves name was revived as an actively used brand for artists' materials.
Aftermath
The contemporary brand became associated especially with accessible watercolour and acrylic products for beginners and hobbyists.
1991
Transfer of brand ownership to Lindéngruppen through ColArtM&ABackground
The Reeves brand had previously been held within the Reckitt and Colman corporate structure.
Action taken
Lindéngruppen acquired ownership of the Reeves brand through ColArt.
Aftermath
Reeves continued within a specialist artists' materials group and was later revived as an actively used brand in 1995.
1974
Acquisition by Reckitt and ColmanM&ABackground
Reeves had operated for more than two centuries as an English art-materials business.
Action taken
Reckitt and Colman acquired the company.
Aftermath
Reeves became part of a larger corporate history that also included Reckitt and Colman's later acquisition of Winsor and Newton. Reeves catalogues and materials were reportedly donated to the Museum of London around this period.
1780
Launch of prepared watercolour cakesProduct launchBackground
Artists commonly had to prepare or mix materials before painting. Reeves developed a prepared watercolour format that combined pigment and binding medium.
Action taken
The company introduced watercolour paint cakes using honey in the formulation to help preserve moisture and durability.
Aftermath
The watercolour cakes became the company's principal growth product and an important part of its historical identity.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/reeves-and-sons · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled