Professional Watercolur

Timeless watercolours, reinvented​

Find new ways to use timeless colours 

With the Winsor & Newton Revival Watercolour Collection you can discover heritage colours now more brilliant than ever. Eight iconic colours have been revived with new and exciting enhanced formulas. From Tyrian Purple to Ultramarine Ash, unleash the colours of the past with a contemporary twist. Discover each colour's story below.

Tyrian Purple

Intense deep purple with a red blue undertone, an excellent alternative to the Murex sea snail version.

Story

Originating in Tyre, Phoenicia, this dye was extraordinarily expensive and time-consuming to produce, requiring 12,000 Murex mollusks to yield just 1.5 grams. It was highly valued in antiquity, symbolizing wealth and status, and was famously worn by figures like Emperor Justinian, depicted in a 6th-century mosaic at the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna.
Features
  • Intense purple with a red blue undertone
  • This staining colour was widely used in history of art
  • Offers extensive tonal possibilities when mixed with other colours
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Field's Orange

A Single pigment red orange, inspired by George Field's specially levigated vermillion for a strong intense colour.

Story

Described by George Field as the "first of the secondary colours in relation to light”. Field describes orange vermilions warm tints resembling those found in Titian or Rubens. This colour created by Field is featured in Queen Victoria's Watercolour box.
Features
  • Single pigment intense orange vermillion
  • Permanent, durable semi-transparent colour
  • Offers extensive tonal possibilities when mixed with other colours
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Cinnabar Green

Vibrant yellowish green which offers tinting and toning potential with other primary and secondary colours.

Story

This pigment emerged in the 18th century as a green copper tartrate or copper arsenic derivative. Known for its brightness and distinct undertone, Cinnabar Green was prominently featured in Winsor & Newton’s historical tint books. Due to its toxicity, it was eventually replaced by safer greens.

Features
  • Strong vibrant transparent yellowish green
  • Extremely permanent secondary colour
  • Ideal for tinting and toning with other colours
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Ostwald Grey

Opaque warm grey perfect for toning, providing a soft granulating texture that mixes beautifully with other colours.

Story

This pigment emerged from an increased interest in mineral colours and subtle palettes. It has been extensively featured in Winsor & Newton’s tint books, highlighting its versatility in mixing and toning and mixes brilliantly with other colours.

Features
  • Opaque warm grey perfect for toning
  • Staining and granulating colour
  • Mixes beautifully with other colours
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Mineral Grey

Semi-transparent grey with a greenish tone that offers ready solutions to softer toning as well as granular textures.

Story

Described by chemist and colour maker George Field as an invaluable addition for tinting and toning, Mineral Grey offers a softer alternative to black or white. It has been a focus of extensive research and refinement by Winsor & Newton.

Features
  • Semi-transparent greenish grey
  • Permanent, distinct and soft colour
  • Ideal for soft tone and granulating textures
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Ultramarine Ash

Beautiful transparent soft granulating grey blue that offers breadth in its tinting and toning possibilities.

Story

Derived from the inferior grades of lapis lazuli, Ultramarine Ash varies in colour strength and was traditionally used for tinting. Winsor & Newton refined this pigment to enhance its beauty and translucency, making it a staple in artistic palettes.

Features
  • Transparent granulating blueish grey
  • Permanent, delicate and subtle colour
  • Ideal for tinting where it is difficult to mix and retain transparency

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Shop the Revival sets

Discover one of our Revival Collection sets. Beautiful historical vibrant grey tones from the past, now safer to use and more permanent over time. Includes tubes and half pans from the Professional Watercolour Revival Collection.

Revival 6 Tube Set

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Revival 8 Half Pan Set

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NEW Professional Watercolour - Aureolin Hue W&N PROFESSIONAL WATER COLOUR AUREOLIN HUE [SWATCH]
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Aureolin Hue From $12.69 USD
NEW Professional Watercolour - Cinnabar Green W&N PROFESSIONAL WATER COLOUR CINNABAR GREEN [SWATCH]
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Cinnabar Green From $12.69 USD
NEW Professional Watercolour - Field's Orange W&N PROFESSIONAL WATER COLOUR FIELDS ORANGE [SWATCH]
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Field's Orange From $12.69 USD
NEW Professional Watercolour - Mineral Grey W&N PROFESSIONAL WATER COLOUR MINERAL GREY [SWATCH]
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Mineral Grey From $10.79 USD
NEW Professional Watercolour - Ostwald Grey W&N PROFESSIONAL WATER COLOUR OSTWALD GREY [SWATCH]
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Ostwald Grey From $10.79 USD
NEW Professional Watercolour - Tyrian Purple W&N PROFESSIONAL WATER COLOUR TYRIAN PURPLE [SWATCH]
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Tyrian Purple From $12.69 USD
NEW Professional Watercolour - Ultramarine Ash W&N PROFESSIONAL WATER COLOUR ULTRAMARINE ASH [SWATCH]
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Ultramarine Ash From $13.99 USD
NEW Professional Watercolour - Viridian Hue W&N PROFESSIONAL WATER COLOUR VIRIDIAN HUE [SWATCH]
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Viridian Hue From $12.69 USD
NEW WN PROFESSIONAL WATERCOLOUR REVIVAL COLLECTION 6 TUBES [COLOURS] 884955095416 WN PROFESSIONAL WATERCOLOUR REVIVAL COLLECTION 6 TUBES [FRONT] 884955095416
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Revival Collection 6x5ml Tube Set $64.99 USD
NEW Professional Watercolour Revival Collection 8 Half Pan W&N PROFESSIONAL WATERCOLOUR REVIVAL COLLECTION 8 HP TIN [DHI] 884955095409
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Revival Collection 8 Half Pan Set $98.99 USD

Professional Watercolour

Beyond the collection, immerse yourself in 100+ colours of unparalleled intensity in the full Professional Watercolour range. The comprehensive palette delivers bold, performative finishes, whatever your approach.

Full range