Brushes

You can’t put a price on a quality brush, but fortunately, with Cowling and Wilcox’s excellent value range of artist brushes, price isn’t a worry. We have a brush for every need and purpose, whether you are creating a watercolour triptych or the world’s smallest oil-on-canvas.

Natural hair brushes are great for watercolour painting – the softer the better. They hold large amounts of paint or water which is necessary for this medium. Red sable is considered to be the best choice for artist brushes, as sable hair comes to a fine needle-like point with excellent spring and resilience. Synthetic hair is now so good that many watercolourists prefer them to natural hair - particularly if price and durability is an issue.

For oils and acrylics, we recommend bristle artist brushes as they have the ability to carry large amounts of paint and work fantastically with a heavier body. Bristle artist brushes are more likely to be used in the beginning stages of a painting to distribute the paint and establish brush strokes. They’re incredibly durable and sturdy.

Whatever your material of choice, we have a range of shapes and sizes of brush to choose from, with both synthetic and natural hair options available. Whether you are a professional or beginner, we have the brush for you – so start browsing now!

Accessories
Best for Oils & Acrylics
Your tools can make or break a painting, so be sure to use the best ones, by selecting them from our range. Here at Cowling and Wilcox, we pride ourselves in offering the highest quality brushes at discounted prices. Oil and Acrylic have been the choice of some of the greats, from Bocour and Gilliam to Dali and da Vinci, and we hope our brushes will assist you in your aspirations to match such artists in your own work. We stock a wide range of acrylic and oil paint brushes, both synthetic and natural, including hog brushes, which are preferred by artists for their ability to carry large amounts of paint and support a heavier body. Whatever the style of painting you are creating, we have the brush for it: whether you need a tiny, round, pointed acrylic brush for detail work, to larger, flat oil brushes for background work. Just beginning to experiment with acrylic or oil painting? Our oil and acrylic brush sets are perfect for beginner artists. But don’t worry if you are an experienced pro. We also offer a selection of more specialist brushes, such as fan brushes, to help you finish your masterpieces to a high standard. Our range of oil and acrylic paint brushes come from leading and trusted art brands like Da Vinci, Pro Arte, and Daler-Rowney at affordable prices. So, what are you waiting for? Start shopping now!
Best for Watercolours
Our range offers both individual watercolour brushes and watercolour brush sets. Browse the selection, including products from established art brands like Pro Arte and Da Vinci.
Great Value Brushes
Specialist Brushes
Sable Brushes
Sable brushes are particularly sought-after amongst artists due to their high-quality finish. Many artists prefer to use sable brushes when working in watercolour, as the soft bristles allow the paint to flow smoothly. Our range of sable brushes offers products from leading art brands like Pro Arte and Da Vinci, as well as our own Cowling & Wilcox products.
Suitable for All Media
Daler-Rowney Brushes
Established in 1783, Daler-Rowney is now a household name when it comes to art supplies. With 230 yeas of experience, you can be rest assured that if you purchase their brushes from us, they will be have been manufactured to the highest standard. Indeed, this company has always been at the forefront of art development, having been responsible for bringing the manufacturing of acrylic paint to Europe back in the 1960s. They have a large range of brushes to choose from, with something for every material, medium and project. For instance, they developed their graduate brushes specifically for students and hobbyists. Furthermore, they have carefully perfected their acrylic and oil brush ranges, making sure that each range is specifically crafted and formed to suit the requirements of each type of paint. Many of our brush sets come in cases, making them really easy to carry around with you when painting away from your studio. Daler-Rowney brushes are perfect for everyone, from beginners to professional painters, so whatever your painting experience, you are sure to find the perfect brushes for your next project when shopping the range with Cowling and Wilcox.