Articles

Sienna was one of the first pigments used for painting. Learn why it took off in the Renaissance and remains a staple in artists’ palettes.

Discover the story behind the colour raw umber, an artists' go-to for under-painting, monochromatic works and the rendering of shadows.

Discover the troubled history of emerald green, and learn about Winsor & Newton’s non-toxic, brilliant blue-green replacement, Winsor Emerald.

Brilliant, distinctive and dangerous, vermilion has made its mark on art history over thousands of years. Find out more about this dramatic red.

Learn more about alizarin crimson, a deep red pigment with an eventful history to match its dramatic colour.

Explore the versatility of phthalo green, a pigment that produces everything from transparent, subtle colours to opaque and brilliant ones.

Discover the painstaking process of making cadmium red, an eyecatching pigment loved by artists for its brightness, strength and opacity.

Viridian pigment is an intense bluish-green colour. Mixed with yellow, orange or red, it gives life to an impressive range of natural greens.

We chronicle the long-standing versatility of this seemingly understated colour, from stained-glass grisaille techniques to stainless steel. This is the story of the colour grey.