History
A RICH HERITAGE
Famous artists, past and present, have used our brands to create spectacular work that live on today and we are proud to be amongst the most established and most respected brands of art materials.
Winsor & Newton was founded in 1832 through the unique partnership of chemist William Winsor and artist Henry Newton. Respected artists JMW Turner, Picasso and David Hockney used the brand in their artworks. Queen Victoria commissioned Winsor & Newton to create the Series 7 brush in 1841, granting the brand its first Royal Warrant, and which is still held today.
The pioneer in fine art colour Lefranc Bourgeois, founded in 1720, and used on the ceiling of the Palace of Versailles has a long and proud tradition of working in partnership with artists.
Liquitex’s founder Henry Levison created the first water-based acrylic paint. His mantra of “I’m only happy when I’m trying to create something new” lives on today, with Liquitex continuing to push boundaries and challenge the established way of doing things.

TIMELINE OF COLART HISTORY

FROM THE PAINTBRUSH TO THE PRINTING PRESS
CREATIVE REVOLUTIONS BEGIN WITH THE TOOLS.
Today, the tools are more powerful more readily available. Digital and traditional tools exist side-by-side. We live in an age where anyone with something to say can express it in different ways. Whether it be drawing, photography, painting, singing, dancing, tatatoos or digitally via social media - everyone can inspire and be inspired. And at Colart, we provide the tools to express this uniquely human experience.
Our renowned brands have steered us in our journey to be the leading house of sustainable creative brands.
