Industry Spotlight — St Cuthberts Mill

The paper behind the painting.

For a watercolour artist, paper is part of the painting. It affects the way colour moves across the surface, how washes settle and blend, and how easily areas can be lifted or reworked. The right sheet can become almost invisible in the process, allowing the artist to concentrate on the paint and the image. Behind some of the best performance papers used by watercolourists is a paper mill in England with a history stretching back to the 1700s.