One of the most genuinely original sketchbook formats available — and one that has earned a devoted following among urban sketchers, travel artists, and anyone who wants a sketchbook that does something that no conventional bound book can do. The Seawhite Concertina Sketchbook is a single continuous sheet of 140gsm cartridge paper, folded in a zig-zag concertina format, with black cloth-bound hardback boards at each end and housed in a fitted black cloth presentation case. It can be used as a conventional sketchbook, working page by page, or opened out to its full length as a single continuous panoramic surface — a quality that makes it as much a display object as a working tool.
Each panel is double-thickness — two sheets joined together — which gives the pages a stability and rigidity under the hand that single-sheet concertina books lack, and allows wet media to be used without the panel buckling away from the surface. The paper is Seawhite's own acid-free 140gsm all-media cartridge, sized for extra wet strength — the same paper used across their sketchbook and pad range. It handles pencil, graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, fine liner, coloured pencil, watercolour washes, and light mixed media work confidently.
When opened out completely, the A5 and A4 versions give 70 working surfaces — an impressive amount of working space in an elegant, compact format. The smaller A7 and 17x9cm versions give 38 panels, sized for genuine pocket carry. Both are finished with attractive black cloth-bound hardback end-covers and come housed in a fitted black cloth-covered slip case that makes the whole object feel — and function as — a finished, presentable piece rather than simply a working tool.
The concertina format is particularly well suited to panoramic landscapes and urban sketching, where the continuous fold-out surface allows a single scene to be worked across multiple panels without interruption. It is also exceptional for display — opened along a shelf, windowsill, or table top, the concertina becomes a visual narrative that a conventional bound sketchbook simply cannot replicate.
We stock four sizes: A7, 17x9cm (pocket), A5, and A4.
Paper weight: 140gsm Working surfaces: 70 (A4 and A5) / 38 (A7 and 17x9cm pocket) Paper: Double-thickness panels — two sheets joined — acid-free, sized for wet strength Cover: Black cloth-bound hardback end-covers Case: Fitted black cloth presentation slip case included Made in: UK
What is a concertina sketchbook? A concertina sketchbook is made from a single continuous sheet of paper folded in a zig-zag format, with hardback covers at each end. It can be used page by page like a conventional sketchbook, or opened out fully to give a single uninterrupted surface of any length — ideal for panoramic compositions and display.
Why are the panels double-thickness? Each panel is made from two sheets of paper joined together, giving the pages rigidity and stability under the hand and allowing wet media to be used without buckling. It makes the concertina format considerably more practical for all-media working than single-sheet versions.
Can it be displayed as well as used for sketching? Yes — this is one of the most distinctive qualities of the concertina format. Opened out along a shelf, table, or windowsill, the book becomes a continuous visual narrative — a sequence of images or a panoramic landscape that can be appreciated as a whole rather than leaf by leaf.
Which size should I choose? The A7 and 17x9cm pocket sizes are genuinely pocket-sized and ideal for everyday carry and location sketching. The A5 gives a comfortable working area that balances portability with space. The A4 is the most ambitious format — substantial enough for detailed work and spectacular when fully opened for display.
What media work in the concertina sketchbook? Pencil, graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, fine liner, coloured pencil, watercolour washes, and light mixed media. The double-thickness acid-free panels and wet-strength sizing make it more capable with wet media than the format might suggest.
