By the early 18th century painting increasingly became an art rather than a trade. A shift which resulted in the recognition of the artist in his own right rather than as an artisan with manual skills. At the same time water colour painting became accepted as a fashionable pastime for the English gentry.
This new market encouraged the emergence of the specialist artists’ colourmen. Records suggest that colourmen have been in evidence in London since at least 1725.
A selection of paint boxes, medals and awards from other early artists’ colourmen, notably Reeves & Sons. Reeves were another famous company, ultimately becoming a sister company of Winsor & Newton during the late 1970’s.
In 1766 William Reeves set up in business supplying water colour cakes. Reeves’ water colours were a significant improvement on his competitors as his discovery that the addition of honey to the colours prevented the cakes from cracking in storage.
A selection of paint boxes, medals and awards from other early artists’ colourmen, notably Reeves & Sons. Reeves were another famous company, ultimately becoming a sister company of Winsor & Newton during the late 1970’s. .