About Us

Since 1832 we’ve been built on a blend of art and science. Our materials are developed by a team of modern ‘colourmen’ with a background in chemistry, who manufacture quality colours and materials. Artists make up our staff throughout the business. Over the years, this artist-fronted approach has led to exciting developments in colours and materials, transforming the ways people make art.

Where it all began

In 1832 at 38 Rathbone Place was when the scientist William Winsor and the artist Henry Newton set out to supply the best possible materials to artists. When they teamed up with great masters such as JMW Turner, they received the insights and professional know-how to establish Winsor & Newton. Since then, we’ve continued teaming up with leading artists and institutions around the globe to develop and supply the best materials to artists..

Our Journey

1832: Winsor & Newton is founded

Scientists William Winsor and artist Henry Newton establish their partnership at 38 Rathbone Place, London.

1835: The world's first moist watercolours

Winsor & Newton develop the first glycerine based, moist watercolours changing the history of outdoor painting

1840: Glass syringes are introduced as paint containers

William Winsor introduces glass syringes to replace bladders as oil colour containers.

1841: Winsor & Newton are granted their first Royal Warrant

Queen Victoria awarded Winsor & Newton their first Royal warrant and the endorsement has been received ever since. Today Winsor & Newton remains by Appointment to HRH the Prince of Wales.

1842: The collapsible screw cap tube is patented

The first screw cap mechanism for collapsible metal tubes is patented by William Winsor; this becomes the standard container for colour.

1854: Outstanding colourman George Field dies

George Field had researched the preparation of madder and lake colours. After his death, William Winsor purchased his books and the production of Rose Madder was made according to these recipes until recent modernisation.

1866: The Series 7 brush is created for Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria orders that Winsor & Newton should produce the very finest kolinsky sable watercolour brushes in her favourite size: the No.7.

1881: Winsor & Newton Limited Company is formed

A few months before his death, Henry Newton sold the business to the newly incorporated firm of Winsor & Newton Ltd which included members of both families amongst the shareholders. The Newtons were employed until the late 1970's.

1892: The Composition & Permanence of Artists' Colours is first published

Dedicated to creating the most stable and permanent pigments, Winsor & Newton were the first to publish the composition and permanence of their colours.

1937: Winsor & Newton introduce Designer' Gouache

A highly pigmented opaque water colour, Designers' Gouache became the most popular medium used by graphic designers.

1937-1938: Colour manufacture opens at Harrow, London

Winsor & Newton moved to West London in 1937-1938; this meant our archives and business were safe when Rathbone Place was destroyed in the London Blitz just a year later.

1946: Brush making factory opens

After the war, a new site was needed for Brush making. The East Anglian port of Lowestoft in the UK proved perfect, as the skills required for mending fishing nets could be transferred to tying knots for brushes.

1970: The launch of Artists' Acrylic paint

Winsor & Newton introduces their first range of Artists' Acrylics.

1973: Drawing Inks receive D.A.D.A award for packaging

Renowned designer Michael Peters OBE, was responsible for creating our iconic Drawing Inks packaging. These designs were recognised in 1973 with a D.A.D.A silver award and has since been celebrated in design museums across the world.

1976: The launch of the world's first Artists' Alkyd Oil Colour

In launching the world's first fast drying oil colour range, Winsor & Newton allowed artists to complete oil paintings in a fraction of the time required with conventional oils.

1998: The launch of Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour

Winsor & Newton launched a range of oil colours and mediums which could be thinned and cleaned up with water, allowing artists to safely enjoy oil colour without the use of hazardous solvents.

2012: A precious ink is created to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Sparkling and opalescent, a Limited Edition Diamond Ink is introduced by Winsor & Newton to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

2015-2020: Promarkers are added to the Winsor & Newton portfolio

Following the acquisition of Letraset, ProMarker™ was incorporated into the portfolio as Winsor & Newton Promarker. New additions to the line soon followed, including the Promarker Brush and Promarker Watercolour.

2018: Studio Collection and Fineliners are added to the Winsor & Newton portfolio

Winsor & Newton unveils a new Fineliner and introduces the Studio Collection, featuring a range of graphite, colour, and watercolor pencils.

2019: Cadmium-Free watercolour & Designer's Gouache are introduced

Formulated by chemists and approved by artists, these new paints don't contain cadmium, providing a safer, innovative and uncompromising alternative.

1832: Winsor & Newton is founded
1835: The world's first moist watercolours
1840: Glass syringes are introduced as paint containers
1841: Winsor & Newton are granted their first Royal Warrant
1842: The collapsible screw cap tube is patented
1854: Outstanding colourman George Field dies
1866: The Series 7 brush is created for Queen Victoria
1881: Winsor & Newton Limited Company is formed
1892: The Composition & Permanence of Artists' Colours is first published
1937: Winsor & Newton introduce Designer' Gouache
1937-1938: Colour manufacture opens at Harrow, London
1946: Brush making factory opens
1970: The launch of Artists' Acrylic paint
1973: Drawing Inks receive D.A.D.A award for packaging
1976: The launch of the world's first Artists' Alkyd Oil Colour
1998: The launch of Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour
2012: A precious ink is created to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee
2015-2020: Promarkers are added to the Winsor & Newton portfolio
2018: Studio Collection and Fineliners are added to the Winsor & Newton portfolio
2019: Cadmium-Free watercolour & Designer's Gouache are introduced

Royal Warrant

Back in 1841, we received our first Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria. Thanks to our innovative products and fine craftmanship over the years, we’ve been honoured with a Royal Warrant ever since.

Today, we take great pride in being the chosen suppliers of the finest art materials to His Majesty King Charles’ household, and to display the King’s coat of arms.

In line with King Charles’ commitment to sustainability and the planet, we have met a code of good environmental practice. This means we are dedicated to making sure that our materials, manufacturing processes and the way we connect with artists minimises our ecological impact.

For more information
about Royal Warrants, visit: www.royalwarrant.org.

Our beliefs

We’ve been the artist’s ally since 1832, always innovating and finding ways to help creators develop and flourish. We believe that the creative process helps us grow, and our vision is for every artist to experience the rewards of that growth. That’s why every product we make is planned, developed and created with the insight, desires and needs of creators at its core. We share this desire to make our mark and grow in the process. And it’s our mission to sustain it, through our role as a beacon of excellence in colour and quality, and our commitment to creating safe and sustainable products.

Change isn’t easy

As a company that produces high-quality paints, materials and tools, being sustainable isn’t easy. But we have a responsibility to act. In fact, our customers expect us to. So, we’re not only committed to finding ways to become more sustainable in our own operations, but also to helping artists to make the right choices too. This means applying our expertise to resolve the challenges around climate change and packaging waste and developing products that are safe to use in the studio, workspace or at home – without compromising on performance. And it means supporting artists in the community and making art accessible to everyone.

Find out below what we’ve been doing to encourage change

Winsor & Newton is a B Corporation

As a result of our commitment to people and the planet, Winsor & Newton has been certified as a B Corporation since 2023. Through our efforts to help artists make sustainable choices, we are counted among businesses that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, responsible and regenerative planet. Learn more about B Corp and our mission to build a better world for artists and the environment here.

Watercolour sets: 100% recycled plastic

We’re transitioning the packaging of our watercolour sets to 100% recycled plastic. All new boxes are white, including the Field set which was previously blue, but the contents remain unchanged.

100% recycled plastic packaging

Our classic mediums bottles are moving off the shelves to make room for new bottles that are made from recycled plastic. They’ll have a slightly cloudy appearance plus a new white cap, but the medium inside the bottle is still the same great formulation as before. The improved bottles are part of our commitment to helping artists make sustainable choices. We‘re taking steps where possible to resolve the challenges around climate change and packaging waste.

Alternative materials – with no compromise

It’s been a couple of years since we launched our Cadmium-Free Professional Watercolour and Artist Oil Colour, which artists confirmed perform on par with counterparts in blind testing. Similarly, our synthetic watercolour and oil brushes perform just as well as our watercolour and sable hog brushes.

Hospital Rooms

We're thrilled to be continuing our work with mental health charity Hospital Rooms. Our partnership aims to enhance mental health environments with installations created by global artists, providing dignity and comfort to patients across the UK. In sponsoring artist Orlanda Broom, we supported her journey at the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.

Introducing recycled Promarker wallet

We’re committed to creating materials that will enable future generations of artists to thrive. We’ve partnered with Waste2Wear, pioneers in innovative plastic recycling, to create a new fully sustainable wallet for our Promarker collection. Using recycled materials, the wallet comes with recyclable belly bands, with no plastic film in sight.