Sepia is a black brown colour. Originally made in the 18th from the ink sacks of cuttlefish, it is now made from a mixture of carbon and umber. It is a highly permanent colour.
Ultramarine is a rich deep transparent blue. It was created by French chemist Guimet in 1828 as a synthetic but chemically identical replacement for the expensive pigment derived from Lapis Lazuli.
Indigo is a deep blue pigment that can range from dark black to pale blue. Originally extracted from plants similar to blue woad used by the ancient Britons, it was synthesised in 1878 in Germany. It...
Turquoise is an opaque blend of green and blue pigments. The name stems from the French 'Turquoise' for the semi-precious stone that was exported to Europe from Persia via Turkey.
Winsor Emerald is a bright clean opaque emerald colour. First documented in 1822, it originally contained arsenic, and is said to have killed Napoleon as his wallpaper in St Helens was emerald green...
Mauve is a rich violet colour. Originally a lake pigment, Mauve was discovered in England 1856 by Sir William Perkin and quickly became a fashionable clothing colour during the Victorian age.
