BEHIND THE BRAND
Go Behind the Brand to discover fascinating in-depth stories and insights from specialised artisan makers and leading manufacturers of some of the world’s finest art materials.
Based in England’s Lake District, Derwent have been crafting quality artists’ pencils since the early 1800s, and continue to be at the forefront of innovative art materials today.
This Melbourne-based company was set up by David Coles in 1992 with the aim of producing modern, exceptional artists’ oil colours, fit for the 21st century.
Swiss company Lascaux is owned by Barbara Diethelm who continues to uphold a reputation for innovative, professional water-based colours, founded by her father in 1963.
Belgian artisan Anne-Sylvie Godeau has been single-handedly making organic and naturally derived watercolours and pigments since 2014, with beautiful results.
Michael Harding began making oil paints from a bedsit in Tunbridge Wells in the UK in the early 1980s, and is now one of the world’s most respected colourmakers.
Roman Szmal started out distributing art materials in Poland but fell in love with what he was selling. His highly perfected watercolours have an ever-growing following.
Established in 1973, Pro Arte produce highly crafted natural and synthetic artists’ brushes for all mediums from their North Yorkshire factory in the UK.
A traditional paper mill producing beautiful watercolour papers. They have been operating on the same riverside site in Somerset, UK since the 1700s.
Based near Dusseldorf, Germany, Schmincke have been making high quality professional oil, acrylic, watercolour, pastel, and printmaking colours since 1881.
Based on the Somerset coast in the UK, Jim Patterson and his small team specialise in the increasingly rare, centuries-old tradition of producing handmade artist quality rag paper.
Artist John Hersey’s vision and production of pure, richly pigmented soft pastels began in 1987. His son Dan, now runs this renowned company based in Northumbria, UK.