Winsor & Newton
Winsor & Newton is a British fine-art materials brand known for professional paints, brushes, mediums, and related artist supplies.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Winsor & Newton is a British fine-art materials brand founded in London in 1832 by William Winsor and Henry Newton. It developed during the Industrial Revolution, when advances in chemistry, manufacturing, transport, and global trade made a broader range of pigments and artistic materials available. From its original premises at 38 Rathbone Place, an area associated with artists and art-material makers, the company built its reputation around reliable, permanent colours and tools intended for professional artists. The brand has been associated with several important developments in artists' materials. It introduced a glycerine-based watercolour in 1835 and later commercialised watercolour in collapsible metal tubes after William Winsor received a patent for a screw-cap tube mechanism in 1842. This packaging helped make paint more portable and practical for artists. The company also expanded its colour ranges and pigment selection, contributing to the standardisation and wider availability of artists' paints during the nineteenth century. It received a Royal Warrant in 1841, and its Series 7 kolinsky sable brush was developed for Queen Victoria in 1866. Winsor & Newton became a limited company in 1881. The Winsor and Newton families remained shareholders after Henry Newton sold the business, while the brand continued to develop as an industrial producer of art materials. It moved from central London to Wealdstone in northwest London in 1937. Following the Second World War, the company opened a brush-making factory in Lowestoft, a facility that continued to make brushes as of 2024. The product portfolio broadened substantially during the twentieth century. The company entered craft products in 1911, introduced Designers' Gouache in 1937, developed an artists' acrylic range in 1970, and created an alkyd colour for artists in 1976. In 1997, it introduced the Artisan range of water-mixable oils and associated oil mediums, offering a water-mixable alternative to conventional oil-paint materials. Its portfolio includes watercolours, oils, acrylics, gouache, drawing materials, brushes, canvases, varnishes, mediums, and other tools used by artists, students, illustrators, designers, and conservators. The company was formerly part of Reckitt & Colman and was sold to ColArt in the early 1990s. ColArt is ultimately owned by Lindéngruppen, a Swedish family-owned investment group. In 2010, ColArt announced the closure of the Winsor & Newton factory at Wealdstone and the transfer of manufacturing to France, while brush production remained associated with the Lowestoft site. Winsor & Newton continues to operate as an international artist-materials brand within ColArt's portfolio. Its historical archives have also been used in research into pigments, organic colourants, canvas supports, oils, and varnishes, linking the commercial brand to the wider history of artists' materials.
History
Winsor & Newton was established in London in 1832 by William Winsor and Henry Newton. Its emergence coincided with rapid industrialisation in Britain, which improved the production and distribution of pigments, oils, resins, metals, and other materials used by artists. The founders operated from 38 Rathbone Place, a London district with a concentration of artists and art-material businesses. The company sought to give artists a dependable selection of permanent colours rather than relying only on inconsistent traditional materials. The business became known for technical experimentation and product innovation. In 1835 it developed a watercolour containing glycerine. In 1841 it received a Royal Warrant, reflecting its standing in the British market. William Winsor patented a screw-cap mechanism for collapsible metal tubes in 1842; Winsor & Newton subsequently sold watercolour in tubes, improving portability and helping artists work outside the studio. The firm introduced additional pigments and colour ranges over the following decades. Its Series 7 kolinsky sable brush was developed for Queen Victoria in 1866 and became one of its most recognisable specialist products. In 1881 the company was incorporated as a limited company. Henry Newton sold the business, although the Winsor and Newton families continued as shareholders. The firm moved to Wealdstone in northwest London in 1937. That year it also launched Designers' Gouache, an opaque colour intended for illustration, design, and related professional applications. The company had begun selling craft products in 1911, broadening its activities beyond the traditional professional-paint market. After the Second World War, Winsor & Newton opened a brush-making factory in Lowestoft. The Lowestoft facility was still making brushes in 2024, preserving a link with the company's manufacturing history. The product range continued to diversify: an acrylic line appeared in 1970, followed by an artists' alkyd colour in 1976. Alkyds offered artists a faster-drying alternative to conventional oil colours while retaining some oil-paint characteristics. The ownership history changed in the late twentieth century. Winsor & Newton was formerly owned by the conglomerate Reckitt & Colman and was sold to ColArt in the early 1990s. ColArt later became part of Lindéngruppen, a family-owned Swedish group. In 1997 Winsor & Newton introduced Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour and related mediums, including water-mixable linseed, stand, fast-drying, and impasto mediums. This range addressed artists seeking oil-paint handling with reduced reliance on conventional solvents. In 2010 ColArt announced the closure of the Wealdstone factory and the transfer of manufacturing to France. The decision marked a major change in the brand's British production footprint, although brush manufacturing remained associated with Lowestoft. Winsor & Newton has continued as an active international brand supplying paints, brushes, mediums, surfaces, and other artist materials. Its archives have been examined by researchers interested in historic pigments, organic colourants, canvas supports, oils, and varnishes. In 2024 the brand partnered with the Paul Smith Foundation on an art prize, demonstrating continuing involvement in artist development and cultural programming.
- 2024
Paul Smith Foundation art-prize partnership
[1]Winsor & Newton partnered with the Paul Smith Foundation to launch an art prize.
- 2010
Wealdstone factory closure announced
[1]ColArt announced that Wealdstone manufacturing would close and move to France.
- 1997
Artisan water-mixable oils introduced
[1]Winsor & Newton introduced Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour and associated mediums.
- 1976
Artists' alkyd colour introduced
[1]The company created an alkyd colour intended for artists.
- 1970
Acrylic range introduced
[1]Winsor & Newton produced an acrylic range for artists.
- 1937
Move to Wealdstone and Designers' Gouache launch
[1]The company moved to Wealdstone and launched Designers' Gouache.
- 1911
Craft products introduced
[1]The company began selling craft products.
- 1881
Incorporated as a limited company
[1]Winsor & Newton was incorporated as a limited company after Henry Newton sold the business.
- 1866
Series 7 brush developed
[1]The Series 7 kolinsky sable brush was developed for Queen Victoria.
- 1842
Collapsible paint-tube mechanism patented
[1]William Winsor obtained a patent for a screw-cap mechanism used with collapsible metal tubes.
Products and positioning
A heritage British professional-art brand positioned around colour permanence, technical reliability, specialist brushes, and a broad portfolio spanning professional, student, design, and craft applications. A heritage British art-materials brand positioned from accessible student products to high-performance professional paints and mediums, with particular strength in oil colour, watercolour, gouache, and artist-support products. A heritage British professional-art brand positioned around colour permanence, technical reliability, specialist brushes, and a broad portfolio spanning professional, student, design, and craft applications, with particular strength in oil colour, watercolour, gouache, and artist-support products.
Watercolour paint
Professional Water Colour
A professional watercolour line associated with the brand's emphasis on pigment quality, colour permanence, and broad colour selection. It represents the continuation of Winsor & Newton's long-standing watercolour expertise, which includes the early use of glycerine and tube packaging. It is developed for professional and advanced watercolorists, emphasizing pigment quality, colour strength, transparency, permanence, and a large palette suitable for detailed, expressive, and archival-oriented work. Winsor & Newton's premium watercolour line, developed for professional and advanced watercolorists. It emphasizes pigment quality, colour strength, transparency, permanence, and a large palette suitable for detailed, expressive, and archival-oriented work.
Student watercolour
Cotman Water Colours
A watercolour range aimed at students, learners, and artists seeking an accessible entry point into the brand's watercolour portfolio. It sits below the professional range in positioning while retaining Winsor & Newton's connection with portable pan and tube watercolour formats. Cotman products are available in pans, tubes, sets, and selected accessories, making the range suitable for classroom, travel, and general studio use. A more accessible watercolour range aimed at students, learners, hobbyists, and artists who want a practical palette at a lower price point. Cotman products are available in pans, tubes, sets, and selected accessories, making the range suitable for classroom, travel, and general studio use.
Artist brushes · 1866
Series 7 Kolinsky Sable
A specialist brush line developed for Queen Victoria in 1866. Series 7 brushes are associated with fine point control and detailed watercolour work, and remain one of the most recognisable products in the Winsor & Newton portfolio.
Gouache paint · 1937
Designers' Gouache
An opaque artists' colour introduced in 1937 for design, illustration, and other applications requiring flat, controlled colour. The line reflects Winsor & Newton's historic relationship with professional illustrators and designers. It is used by illustrators, designers, students, and painters seeking flat coverage and controlled colour application, suited to graphic work, illustration, studies, and mixed-media practice where opacity and clean colour fields are important. An opaque water-based colour range used by illustrators, designers, students, and painters seeking flat coverage and controlled colour application. It is suited to graphic work, illustration, studies, and mixed-media practice where opacity and clean colour fields are important.
Acrylic paint · 1970
Acrylic Colour
Winsor & Newton's acrylic offering extends the brand beyond traditional watercolour and oil media. Acrylics provide fast-drying, water-based colour for artists working across painting, illustration, education, and mixed-media practices.
Oil paint · 1997
Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour
A water-mixable oil-paint system introduced in 1997. The range includes compatible mediums and oils designed to give artists oil-like handling while allowing water to be used in cleaning and certain working processes.
Oil paint
Artists' Oil Colour
A professional oil-colour line built around the brand's traditional focus on pigment selection, permanence, and consistency. It is intended for studio painting and supports techniques involving oils, mediums, glazing, impasto, and varnishing. The line is designed for traditional oil-painting techniques and can be used with the brand's mediums and varnishes to modify drying, gloss, transparency, flow, and texture. A professional oil-colour range intended for painters who require a broad selection of pigments, strong colour characteristics, and consistent handling. The line is designed for traditional oil-painting techniques and can be used with the brand's mediums and varnishes to modify drying, gloss, transparency, flow, and texture.
Student oil paint
Winton Oil Colour
An oil-colour range positioned for students and artists who need a broad palette at a more accessible level than a professional artists' oil range. It forms part of the brand's educational and entry-level offering.
Alkyd paint
Griffin Alkyd
A fast-drying oil-modified alkyd colour range intended for artists who want many of the working characteristics of oil paint with shorter drying times. It can support layered painting, studio work under time constraints, and techniques that benefit from quicker surface set.
Acrylic paint
Galeria Acrylic
An acrylic range positioned for students, hobbyists, decorative artists, and developing painters. It provides water-based, quick-drying colour for canvas, board, paper, and other suitable surfaces, with a product format intended to make acrylic painting broadly accessible.
Painting medium
Liquin
A family of oil-painting mediums used to alter drying time, flow, gloss, transparency, and surface appearance. Liquin products are commonly used with oil colour for glazing, smoother brushwork, impasto-related effects, and faster-paced layered painting.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Paul Smith Foundation art prize
United Kingdom
Winsor & Newton partnered with the Paul Smith Foundation to launch an art prize, supporting emerging or participating artists through a cultural initiative connected with the brand's role in the art community. An art prize was launched; further outcome details are not specified in the cited material.
Outcome. An art prize was launched; further outcome details are not specified in the cited material.
Brand decisions
2010
Transfer of Wealdstone manufacturing to FranceStrategyBackground
ColArt reviewed the manufacturing footprint of the Winsor & Newton business.
Action taken
ColArt announced the closure of the Wealdstone factory and the movement of manufacturing to France.
Aftermath
The brand's Wealdstone production ended, while brush manufacturing continued to be associated with the Lowestoft factory.
1997
Launch of Artisan Water Mixable Oil ColourProduct launchBackground
Artists seeking oil-paint characteristics with a water-mixable working system represented an opportunity for product innovation.
Action taken
Winsor & Newton launched Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour together with water-mixable linseed, stand, fast-drying, and impasto mediums.
Aftermath
The range expanded the brand's oil-paint portfolio and addressed solvent-reduction preferences among artists.
1990
Sale from Reckitt & Colman to ColArtM&ABackground
Winsor & Newton was formerly owned by Reckitt & Colman and was sold to ColArt in the early 1990s.
Action taken
Ownership of the brand transferred to ColArt.
Aftermath
Winsor & Newton continued as a ColArt brand; ColArt is ultimately owned by Lindéngruppen.
Recent events
- 2024
Winsor & Newton partners with the Paul Smith Foundation for an art prize[1]
Campaign
Winsor & Newton partnered with the Paul Smith Foundation to launch an art prize, extending the brand's cultural and artist-support activity.
- 2010
ColArt announces closure of Winsor & Newton's Wealdstone factory[1]
Other
ColArt announced that manufacturing at the Wealdstone facility would end and that production would be transferred to France.
Winsor & Newton products continue under Colart's international art-materials portfolio[4]
Other
Winsor & Newton operates as one of the established brands in Colart's portfolio of professional and creative art-materials businesses. Standalone financial and executive disclosures for the brand are limited.
Sources5 sources
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