French ultramarine is a rich transparent blue. It was created by French chemist Guimet in 1828 as a synthetic but chemically identical alternative to the expensive pigment derived from lapis lazuli.

Professional watercolour is recognised for using only the purest pigments to ensure quality and permanence. Available in 108 colours.

Discover endless colour potential. Since 1835 when William Winsor and Henry Newton introduced the first moist watercolours to the world, much of our reputation for supreme quality has stemmed from the Professional Watercolour range. Since then, Professional Watercolour continues to be formulated and manufactured according to our founding principles; to create an unparalleled watercolour range that offers artists the widest and most balanced choice of pigments with the greatest possible permanence. Each colour within this wide and balanced spectrum has been selected and formulated to offer the greatest choice so that artists can use a unique palette that best suits their work.

Try the Professional Watercolour range. The hand-painted dot card includes all 109 colours in the Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour range represented by a small dot of dried paint on a sheet of watercolour paper. Apply a wet brush to each dot to reveal the colour's individual characteristics. Perfect for experimentation! Listed on the card are each colour's series number, permanency rating, transparency, lightfastness rating, and whether the colour is staining or granulating.