Ink Brushes
Ink brushes are ideal for Indian inks, acrylic inks, fluid acrylics, and highly fluid paints. Brushes for ink painting offer you excellent control and flow for fine line work and expressive techniques.
Ink brushes are perfect for calligraphy, illustration, and fluid painting techniques. The thinner the paint, the softer the brush needs to be, with greater liquid-holding capacity for smooth application. Shop our selection of ink brushes from Akashiya, Da Vinci, Escoda, Pro Arte, and more.
Jackson's : Icon : Watercolour Brushes : Series 700 / 702 / 777 / 7776
From £4.50
Jackson's : Studio Synthetic Watercolour Brushes : 503 / 505 / 506
From £2.90
Da Vinci : Cosmotop Spin Brushes : Series 488 / 5080 / 5580 / 5584 / 5587
£3.90
From £3.52
Da Vinci : Cosmotop Mix B Brushes : 438 / 5530 / 5830
£7.10
From £6.40
Escoda : Último Tendo Synthetic Brushes : 1525 / 1526 / 1530 / 1533
From £7.10
Escoda : PRADO Tame Synthetic Brushes : 1460 / 1461 / 1462 / 1494
From £5.70
Pro Arte : Prolene Plus Brushes One Strokes : 008
From £4.00
Winsor & Newton : Sceptre Gold II Sable/Synthetic Mix Brushes
From £4.70
Ink Brushes: Popular Questions from Artists
What Are Ink Brushes?
Ink brushes are soft-bristled brushes made to hold a large volume of fluid. They deliver controlled, expressive strokes when using inks or other thin liquid media.
Typically made from natural fibres like sable or goat, or high-performing synthetic alternatives, ink brushes provide excellent flow and responsiveness. Many have long, tapered bristles with a fine point, making them ideal for calligraphy, illustration, Chinese painting, and traditional ink painting.
Artists use ink brushes for their precision, fluidity, and ability to create dynamic lines in a single stroke. A flexible tip allows for smooth transitions between thin and thick lines depending on pressure, making them ideal for expressive work with Indian ink, acrylic ink, and even watercolour.
‘The Akashiya Sharaku Calligraphy Brush is beautiful. It holds such a lot of ink giving you a really black solid line. Due to its shape I got a good range of marks… It kept its shape well and not one bristle was lost which I have found with cheaper brushes.’
- Mel Pozniakow Tests Jackson’s Curated Set: Ink, Jackson’s Art Blog
Ink brush painting dates back to ancient China. Together with the inkstone, inkstick and Xuan paper, these form the ‘Four Treasures of the Study’.
The earliest surviving intact ink brush, found in 1954, was from the Warring States period (c. 475-221 BCE). Based on archaeological evidence and historical references, they are believed to have been used back as far as the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE).
Artists like Sesshū Tōyō and contemporary ink artists have continued to use this tool for its unique expressive potential.
At Jackson’s, we offer a carefully curated selection of ink brushes from leading brushmakers including Akashiya, Da Vinci, Escoda, Kuretake, and our own Jackson’s ranges.
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Shop Ink Brushes at Jackson’s
Whether you’re a traditional calligrapher, designer, or fine art painter, we have the perfect tools for you. Need more help? Visit our Help & Advice or Contact Us pages.