I’ve mentioned watercolour in some of my articles before, and it is by far my preferred colouring method and paint type. I love how versatile it is - perfect for quick washes over an ink sketch or building up layers for a rich, textured painting. The transparency of watercolour and the granulation (look it up!) really appeal to me, as I’m a big fan of texture.

I first picked up watercolour as a travel medium. It seemed the most portable way to add colour to my travel sketches. Before that, I was very much a drawer rather than a painter. I lacked the patience for oil, and I’ve never gotten along with acrylics. Gouache is still something I want to explore more - that flat, design-y, chalky colour look definitely opens up some cool possibilities (in my head, anyway). But eh, a girl has to prioritise.

So you want to start watercolour but don’t know where to begin? Let me hold your hand and guide you through your first steps.

Supplies

Paint

If you remember only one thing: don’t buy cheap paints.
I know - it’s tempting to grab a massive set of 36 colours for £20 and call it a day. But low-quality watercolours are chalky, don’t activate well, and lack the vibrancy and magic of proper pigments. They might even put you off painting altogether.

If you’re not ready to invest in pro-grade paints, go for the student ranges of professional brands. These are used by art students and hobbyists and are actually really good. I still use mine - though now that I’ve picked up a few pro ones, I’m seriously considering asking Santa for a dream palette (not me casually forwarding this to my boyfriend)...

You don’t need a ton of premixed colours either. In fact, I’d argue it’s better not to - sticking to mostly primaries will teach you how to mix, which is an essential skill and honestly, super fun. It challenges you and genuinely changes the way you see colours in the world. (I’m so passionate about colour that I may do a full article on that alone.)

So here’s what you actually need to start:

• a warm red

• a cool red

• a warm blue

• a cool blue

• a warm yellow

• a cool yellow

• maybe a neutral tint / dark shade

These are my favourite, everyday colours

If you already know you prefer warmer or cooler tones (or want to pare things down further), check out the Zorn palette: traditionally Ivory Black, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red (or Vermilion), and Titanium White. You could replace the black with a deep blue like Ultramarine or Prussian blue and skip the white (since we don’t usually use white in watercolour).

Pans vs tubes:
Watercolours come in both. Tubes give you more paint, but you’ll need a palette. Pans are great to start with - compact, portable, and easy to use. If you get hooked, then tubes might offer better value for your favourite hues.

Brands I trust:
Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, Sennelier, Schmincke.

Best beginner sets:

• Best overall – Winsor & Newton, Cotman Watercolour, ‘Sketchers’ Pocket Set’ *

• Daniel Smith 285650009 Half Pan Set Ultimate Mixing Set

• Sennelier Mini Aquarelle Metal Box of 8 Half-pans

• Schmincke - AKADEMIE®AQUARELL Watercolor compact color box

• Schmincke - AKADEMIE®AQUARELL Watercolour Box, basic assortment

• Winsor & Newton 95437 Cotman Watercolour Set-12

• Schmincke Watercolour Paint, Academy Watercolour Painting Box

• Schmincke - AKADEMIE®AQUARELL Watercolour Box, basic assortment 10

These sets all follow the logic I mentioned earlier. Whatever you choose, don’t buy something that doesn’t mention pigment info or lightfastness, or that costs under £15 - they’re almost always poor quality. You don’t need more than 12 colours (even 8 is fine). Again, having fewer colours helps you learn mixing and automatically creates more harmonious paintings.

*I started with the Winsor & Newton ‘Sketchers’ Pocket Set. It’s around £15, comes with warm and cool primaries, and even includes a brush (though it’s a bit small). I’ve had mine for years - I’ve hit pan, sure, but there’s still plenty left.

Little tip: If you want to buy individual pans (not just for budget reasons - it’s also smart if you already paint with another medium and know your preferences), you’ll need a palette. I discovered that the little metal tins we use for period pads are perfect - they hold about 20 pans, are super light and compact, and have lasted me years. Just add a bit of blue tack to keep the pans in place while still letting you rearrange them. You can buy empty pans online for cheap.

I know I said no white. The white is Japanese watercolours which is much closer to gouache so I use it for opaque touches here and there.

Paper

Once you have paint, all you need is good paper and one or two decent brushes.

Bad paper can ruin everything. It buckles, dulls colour, and makes even top-tier pigment look flat. You don’t need to spend a fortune, though.

You can choose between a sketchbook or loose sheets. Sketchbooks are great for travel and journaling; loose paper is usually cheaper. If you're new, stick to A4 or smaller as bigger formats can feel intimidating. For travel, I’d recommend A5 or A6.

Textured paper is a personal love of mine, but it can be tricky when you’re starting out. Go for smoother surfaces first - even though that grainy, handmade look is tempting!

My go-to sketchbook:
I still buy Moleskine sketchbooks from their Art Collection. Their regular range is okay for light washes, but their Watercolour Album handles water much better.

Paper brands worth trying:

• Moleskine Art Collection Watercolor Album

• If you really want the texture - KHADI HARDBACK BOOK 13 x 16 cm White Rough**

• Winsor and Newton Watercolour Paper Pad, A4

• Winsor & Newton 6667010 Classic Watercolour Paper in Jumbo Pad - 50 Sheets A4

• CANSON XL Watercolour 300gsm A3 Paper, Cold Pressed, Spiral Pad Short Side, 30 White Sheets

• Finally, the Rolls Royce of watercolour paper: ARCHES paper

**I have this one and I love it but sometimes I'm just not feeling the extra effort that comes with working with textured paper (see one of my sketches below). You can also find loose sheets of it for quite cheap like this.

see that texture? - sigh - so pretty

Brushes

Brushes can be overwhelming: so many shapes, materials, sizes. But honestly, you only need one or two good ones.

You want something that holds water well and can do both washes and details. Natural bristles are great, but synthetics can be excellent too. Just don’t go mega cheap. (You’ll end up with a plastic handle and bristles like Barbie hair - gross)

Stick to sizes 6–8 if you’re working in smaller formats (which I recommend). That’s what I use most of the time.

Travel tip: Get a waterbrush! It’s a game changer. No need for a water cup. It takes practice to control water flow, but that’s true of regular brushes too.

Brushes I recommend (many under £6):

Waterbrushes:

• Good if you want reasonable variety to test things out - Derwent Push Button Assorted Size Waterbrush Set or Derwent Waterbrush For Watercolour Painting, Pack Of 3

• Alternative to the Pentel, similar price - Derwent Waterbrush for Watercolour Painting Medium Tip

• My go to for Travel Sketching : Pentel Arts Aquash Brush, Medium

Regular brushes:

• A good set of 3 versatile sizes Artway Synthetic Quill Watercolour Mop Brushes

• Really good value for this type of brushes and sizes 0 to 16 so ideal if you plan on working on lots of different formats - Sable Watercolour Brushes 9pcs, Fuumuui Detail to Mop Kolinsky Sable Brushes

Techniques & Quick Practice

I get it - when you pick up a new medium, you just want to make something beautiful right away. I’m guilty of that too. But the best way to get good is to understand how your tools interact.

In watercolour, that means water + paper + paint + brush. The trickiest part is figuring out your water-to-paint ratio. Less water = more pigment = sharper detail. This is great for texture or dry brush effects (like mimicking sand on textured paper).

Important tip: Always add a few drops of water into your pan first, mix generously on a palette, then go to the page. You’ll have way more control.

Try this:
Pick a single colour (a strong one like blue or red) and see how many variations you can make using just water. A super simple but useful exercise.

Once you’ve got a feel for water control, experiment with layering and different effects:

• What happens when you paint on wet paper?

• What does it look like when you add dry paint on top of a wet layer?

• How does pigment flow?

You'll notice different colours behave differently too - that’s granulation at play (aka texture that appears when pigments settle into the textured surface of the paper. Some pigments naturally clump together more than others).

Once you're comfortable with your tools, it's time to swatch your colours and explore mixing. Make a swatch chart to keep in your palette. Try mini palettes with your favourite combos and see how they interact.

With practice, your paintings will evolve, and your style will naturally emerge. That’s the magic of it! The colours, textures, and marks you’re drawn to will build your visual language. Painting helps you notice beauty everywhere - and express it in your own unique way.

To Line or Not to Line?

Bonus note: If you want to add linework to your watercolours, make sure your pens are waterproof. This is especially important if you ink before painting. Look for terms like “waterproof,” “India ink,” or “China ink.”

Pens I recommend:

• SAKURA Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens Set of 6

• Faber-Castell Art & Graphic Pitt Artist Pen India Ink Pen - really cool set that includes a brush pen too

• STAEDTLER ‎Pigment Liner Fineliner Pens

• uni-ball PIN Fineliners

• Tombow Fudenosuke Hard and Soft Tip Brush Pen ( my favourites - never bled)

Brush pens aren’t monoline. This means they vary with pressure, so one pen might be all you need. It takes practice, but gives a sketchy, expressive look.

If you ink after painting, feel free to experiment: use markers, pencils, anything that adds flair!

If you enjoyed this, head over to my Travel Sketching article and get inspired!

Quick Links:

Palettes:

• Winsor & Newton, Cotman Watercolour, 'Sketchers' Pocket Set'

• Daniel Smith 285650009 Half Pan Set Ultimate Mixing Set

• Sennelier Mini Aquarelle Metal Box of 8 Half-pans

• Schmincke - AKADEMIE®AQUARELL Watercolor compact color box

• Schmincke - AKADEMIE®AQUARELL Watercolour Box, basic assortment

• Winsor & Newton 95437 Cotman Watercolour Set-12

• Schmincke Watercolour Paint, Academy Watercolour Painting Box

• Schmincke - AKADEMIE®AQUARELL Watercolour Box, basic assortment 10

Paper and Sketchbooks:

• Moleskine Art Collection Watercolor Album

• KHADI HARDBACK BOOK 13 x 16 cm White Rough

• Winsor and Newton Watercolour Paper Pad, A4

• Winsor & Newton 6667010 Classic Watercolour Paper in Jumbo Pad - 50 Sheets A4

• CANSON XL Watercolour 300gsm A3 Paper, Cold Pressed, Spiral Pad Short Side, 30 White Sheets

• ARCHES paper

Brushes and Pens

• Derwent Push Button Assorted Size Waterbrush Set or Derwent Waterbrush For Watercolour Painting, Pack Of 3

• Derwent Waterbrush for Watercolour Painting Medium Tip

• Pentel Arts Aquash Brush, Medium

• Artway Synthetic Quill Watercolour Mop Brushes

• Sable Watercolour Brushes 9pcs, Fuumuui Detail to Mop Kolinsky Sable Brushes

• SAKURA Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens Set of 6

• Faber-Castell Art & Graphic Pitt Artist Pen India Ink Pen - really cool set that includes a brush pen too

• STAEDTLER ‎Pigment Liner Fineliner Pens

• uni-ball PIN Fineliners

• Tombow Fudenosuke Hard and Soft Tip Brush Pen

Disclosure:
Some links may be affiliate. This means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Every item mentioned is something I’ve personally used and loved (except for specific palettes but I know the brands, have tried their paints and trust them).