A Flowing Legacy – The History of Watercolours

A Flowing Legacy – The History of Watercolours

From cave walls to contemporary studios, watercolour has always found its way

The evolution of watercolour: simple materials, timeless expression.

Origins in the Earth – The First Water-Based Paints

Watercolour painting is one of the oldest artistic traditions in the world, with roots reaching back to prehistoric cave art. Early humans ground earth pigments into powders and mixed them with water, plant sap, or animal fat to create rudimentary paints, using these to decorate the walls of caves such as those at Lascaux in France.

Though crude by today’s standards, these early works demonstrate watercolour’s enduring appeal: simplicity, immediacy, and a natural connection to the earth.

Egypt, Rome, and the Medieval Manuscript

Water-based pigments continued to evolve through Ancient Egypt and Classical Rome, where artists used gum arabic and natural binders to paint on papyrus, plaster, and vellum. Egyptian tomb paintings and Roman frescoes bear the marks of water-soluble pigment work, particularly in decorative and religious contexts.

But it was in the Middle Ages that watercolour began to take on a form more recognisable to us today. Artists and monks illuminated manuscripts with vibrant, precise colours, applying finely ground pigments suspended in water and gum arabic. These illuminated pages laid the groundwork for watercolour’s future as a detailed and portable medium.

Renaissance Exploration & Botanical Illustration

The Renaissance ushered in an era of scientific observation, and watercolour became the ideal tool for naturalists, explorers, and scholars.

• Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) is often credited as one of the first great masters of watercolour. His exquisite studies of plants, animals, and landscapes demonstrated watercolour’s potential as a serious art form, not just a tool for studies or sketches.
• Watercolour was favoured for botanical illustration due to its transparency and accuracy. It allowed fine detail while preserving the delicacy of the subject.

The Golden Age – 18th and 19th Centuries

The 18th century marked the true beginning of watercolour as a respected fine art medium, especially in Britain. Artists like:

• Paul Sandby, often called the “father of English watercolour”
• Thomas Girtin and J.M.W. Turner, who pushed the expressive limits of light and atmosphere
• John Constable, who used watercolour for studies and compositional planning

During this period, portable paint boxes became popular, making plein-air painting more practical. This mobility helped watercolour align with Romantic ideals of nature and immediacy, capturing fleeting light and mood in a way no other medium could.

Modern Innovation & Global Influence

The 20th century saw artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, John Singer Sargent, and Winslow Homer use watercolour in bold new ways—combining technical skill with modernist freedom. Watercolour became looser, more expressive, and more abstract.

Meanwhile, traditions from Asia, where water-based painting (notably Chinese ink wash and Japanese sumi-e) had thrived for centuries, began to influence Western artists. These traditions emphasised gesture, restraint, and spiritual depth—values that aligned beautifully with modern watercolour aesthetics.

Today’s Watercolour Renaissance

Watercolour continues to thrive in the 21st century, enjoying a renaissance among contemporary artists, illustrators, designers, and hobbyists. With the rise of social media and online learning, watercolour’s popularity has soared due to its:

• Accessibility – minimal tools, quick setup
• Portability – ideal for urban sketching or plein air painting
• Expressiveness – beautiful granulation, blooming effects, and layering

Artists today are exploring everything from hyperrealism to abstraction, botanical art to calligraphy, using watercolour’s unique voice in ever-evolving ways.

A Timeless Medium with Flowing Potential

From ancient cave dwellings to modern studio desks, watercolour has always followed the hand of the curious, the observant, and the expressive. It remains one of the most beloved and rewarding ways to connect with colour, paper, and the world around us.

At Jackman’s Art Materials, we celebrate the rich heritage of watercolour while embracing its future—offering everything you need to explore this timeless medium, whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or returning to an old love.