The heavier sibling of Seawhite's established 140gsm All-Media Cartridge — the same trusted British-made paper, the same internal sizing for extra wet strength, but at 220gsm a significantly more substantial sheet that handles the full range of wet and dry media with noticeably more confidence and resilience. Where the 140gsm is the versatile everyday workhorse, the 220gsm Heavy is the pad you reach for when you want more from the paper — more resistance to wet media, more body under the hand, more latitude to work and rework without the surface giving way.
At 220gsm the paper handles pencil, graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, fine liner, pastel, gouache, acrylic, and ink wash without buckling, lifting, or losing surface integrity. The internal neutral pH sizing adds wet strength beyond what the weight alone provides, giving the paper a resilience that outperforms most papers at this weight category. Light watercolour washes sit cleanly on the surface; heavier and more ambitious watercolour work is possible with this pad in a way it simply is not with the 140gsm version. For mixed media work — combining wet and dry techniques in the same piece — the 220gsm Heavy gives the freedom to apply paint, wash, and mark-making media in sequence without anxiety about the paper failing.
The pad construction matches the 140gsm range — 25 sheets, glued and tape bound on the short edge with a stiff 2mm greyboard backing that holds firm whether the pad is on a desk or in hand. Opens flat. Acid-free and chlorine-free. Made in the UK by Seawhite of Brighton.
Available in A4, A3, and A2 — the A2 size in particular making it a strong choice for large-scale mixed media and painting work where the heavy weight of the paper is most valuable.
Paper weight: 220gsm Sheets: 25 per pad Binding: Glued and tape bound on the short edge Backing: Stiff 2mm greyboard Paper: Acid-free, chlorine-free, sized for extra wet strength Made in: UK
What is the difference between the 140gsm and 220gsm Seawhite Cartridge Pads? Both use the same all-media cartridge paper made in the UK with internal wet-strength sizing. The 220gsm Heavy is a significantly thicker and more robust sheet — it handles heavier applications of wet media including acrylic and more substantial watercolour work, and is less prone to buckling under repeated working. The 140gsm pad contains 50 sheets; the 220gsm contains 25 sheets, reflecting the increased paper weight.
Can it handle acrylic paint? Yes — the 220gsm weight and wet-strength sizing make it a suitable surface for acrylic painting, particularly for lighter to medium applications. For heavy impasto acrylic work, a primed canvas or canvas panel is more appropriate, but for general acrylic painting and mixed media the 220gsm Heavy performs well.
Is it suitable for watercolour? It handles watercolour washes and mixed media wet working considerably better than standard cartridge paper, and better than the 140gsm version. For very heavy or repeated watercolour work, a dedicated watercolour paper is still the preferred choice — but for mixed media combining watercolour with other techniques, the 220gsm Heavy is a practical and economical option.
Does the pad open flat? Yes — the glued and tape binding on the short edge allows the pad to open completely flat, providing a stable working surface across the full sheet.
Is it acid-free? Yes — the paper is acid-free and chlorine-free, suitable for finished work as well as practice and experimental work.
