Baohong

Baohong: Finest 100% Cotton Watercolour Paper from China

Baohong watercolour paper is the result of generations of passion, craftsmanship, and innovation in the heart of Baoding, China.

Founded in 1992 by Shi Liming, whose family roots in papermaking trace back decades, the Baoding Huarong Paper Factory began with a vision to create something exceptional. At a time when most Chinese mills could only produce wood pulp-based papers, Shi wanted to develop cotton watercolour paper that could compete on the global stage.

This vision came to life through a unique international collaboration. Australian watercolourists Ross Patterson and David Taylor visited the mill and introduced Shi to Luke Senior, the Australian distributor for Daniel Smith, who helped connect the mill with a group of world-renowned watercolour artists.

These artists - Joseph Zbukvic, Alvaro Castagnet, Greg Allen, Amanda Hyatt, Herman Pekel, Robert A. Wade, and later, Thomas W. Schaller - provided feedback over three years, working with the mill to refine and perfect the paper's properties.

The result was The Masters’ Choice by Baohong, a professional-grade 100% cotton watercolour paper praised for its strength, absorbency, and performance across a wide range of techniques. It features both internal and surface sizing to provide superb wet strength and ensure colour vibrancy.

Baohong Masters’ Choice Watercolour Paper was first launched in Australia in 2019 and quickly expanded to North America and Europe. It has become a firm favourite for many artists working with watercolour, gouache, ink, and more.

Baohong’s dedication to preserving traditional methods is also celebrated at the Baohong Art Museum in Baoding, where visitors can learn about papermaking, movable-type printing, and explore exhibitions highlighting the brand's artistic heritage.