Millford
Developed by renowned UK papermakers St Cuthberts Mill, Millford Watercolour Paper has been specially created to have a high resistance to water. This ‘hard sizing’ makes the paper less absorbent, allowing colours to retain their vibrancy.
Millford Watercolour Paper: A Modern Tribute to a Traditional Paper
Millford Watercolour Paper is made by renowned British papermakers St Cuthberts Mill in Somerset, England. It was developed to offer the same qualities as the much-loved Whatman paper, which was discontinued and missed by many artists.
The story of Millford began with the invention of wove paper by James Whatman at Turkey Mill in Kent during the 18th century. Prior to this, most papers were ‘laid’, with visible lines from the wire mesh used in production. Whatman’s innovation involved using a woven mesh, which produced a smoother surface ideal for both printing and painting. Whatman paper was also sized with gelatine. This gave it its famed toughness and absorbency.
Artists such as J.M.W. Turner quickly recognised the creative potential of this new surface, especially for subtractive techniques not easily possible in watercolour. After Whatman production came to an end, St Cuthberts Mill worked to recreate the distinctive paper, which is now known as Millford.
Like Whatman, Millford paper is mould-made from 100% cotton and surface-sized to give it exceptional strength and water resistance. Unlike the original recipe, it is now made without animal products.
Millford allows for bold washes, crisp edges, and demanding techniques like lifting, scratching, and reworking. As well as watercolour, Millford paper is a popular surface for use with gouache, acrylic, pastel, pencil, charcoal, and more.
Whether you're working wet-on-wet, building layers, or using rougher techniques, Millford offers a dependable surface that handles it all while preserving the look and feel of a classic English watercolour paper.