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Watercolour

Our acid-free watercolour paper is designed for artists at all levels. The excellent lightly textured surface is suitable for a variety of media including watercolour, gouache, pen and ink, pencil, and pastel.

Can't find what you're looking for? Our paper experts are ready to help.

The surface provides superb erasability as well as good water absorbency without stretching.

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Free of optical brighteners (OBA free)

We make fine art papers without the use of OBAs. The natural white colour, known as “optically dead” papers, will remain consistent under different lighting conditions. Especially important for artwork that will be scanned for high quality reproduction.

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Particularly suited to line and wash illustration work

Line and wash is a drawing and painting process in which defined lines are used in unison with washes of colour. Also called pen-and-wash drawing, in the visual arts, a drawing marked out by pen and then tinted with watercolour.

Ostrich

Acid-free, for preservation of artwork integrity over time

Acid-free papers are made using alkaline paper making technology. This means the pH of the pulp that is used to form the paper is above 7 (neutral), to prevent unwanted deterioration or yellowing of the sheet.

Kendal Watercolour Board

Our acid-free watercolour paper is designed for artists at all levels.

Order a sample
Kendal Watercolour Board 00081 X3

Other Papers for watercolour:

With 100% cotton content combing mechanical resistance with a sensuous feel.

Specialist Paper Suppliers

Paper converting can often sit as a separate service to papermaking, with a complicated and lengthy supply chain limiting possibilities for the customer. However, the James Cropper Tailor Made service allows our clients to take their vision to the next level by benefitting from the fact that our papermaking and converting capabilities are all under one roof.

Textures and Patterns

The versatile surface of James Cropper papers can be made to take on forms that are as intriguing to the touch as they are beautiful to the eye.

Why not heighten tactility and add visual impact with one of the textured designs in the James Cropper collection?

Embossing

James Cropper offers a choice of more than 30 different embossing patterns including textile weaves, leathers, rippling effects and intricate geometrics in grid, spot or linear formations to further enhance our premium papers and boards. We can also create a tailor made design for those wanting something truly unique.

To give increased clarity and depth to the textured finish, embossing patterns can be applied using a Hot Press heating method.

Explore our felt mark and watermark patterns here -

Apollo

Elation

Kendal Laid

Burberry

Creative Effects

Whether it's bespoke embossing, laminating for effect or varnishing for technical performance that you are looking for, we are driven by the creativity of our clients and embrace every challenge.

We can duplex, film laminate or coat paper to create unique effects and textures quite unlike anything you'd get from print.

  • Laminating up to 5 piles in single colour or striking colour combinations
  • Papers from 70gsm to 3mm thick
  • Decorative film and foil options
  • Shimmering pearl effects
  • Custom inclusions

Water-based Varnish

Whilst a simple clear gloss or matt water based varnish can enhance the appearance of the paper, it also improves resistance to scuffing and finger-marking. A gloss varnish reflects back the light and makes the base colour appear richer and more vivid. A matt varnish gives the surface a satin look with a discreet sheen.

Technical Requirements

Technical Requirements

We go to great lengths to prove your papers lasting integrity.

Starting with the selection of raw materials to ensure the right paper grade and right choice of dyes and pigments are used to support your technical requirements; whether that is optimal colourfastness, rub or bleed resistance, wet or dry strength.

With safety and hygiene still being of high concern for people, particularly for items such as packaging, we can also reduce risk from bacteria or viral contamination with our PaperGard silver ion product production.

Adding lamination for rigidity or thickness and textures or coatings during the converting process for decorative effect, anti-counterfeiting measures or to aid scuff resistance; our paper experts can design your product with the end use in mind.

Explore our Technical Requirements here.

Yellow Paper Production

Paper Heavyweight

The mill can produce papers from 70gsm to 450gsm on machine. In addition we have the facility to laminate multiple paper plies to create heavyweight boards up to 3mm thick in single or multi-colour combinations.

Our papers and boards can be produced in reel or short form.

Need a bespoke paper solution?

Discover Tailor Made Luxury Paper
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