A thoughtfully curated starter set for anyone drawn to floral watercolour painting — compact, self-contained, and put together by professional artists who know exactly which colours a floral palette needs to do its job well. The Cotman Watercolour Floral Pocket Set contains 8 half pans of Cotman watercolour, a travel brush, and room for 4 additional half pans to be added as your palette grows — all in a pocket-sized plastic box that fits easily into a bag or coat pocket.
The colour selection is the key to this set's appeal. Rather than a generic all-purpose palette, these 8 colours have been chosen specifically with flowers and botanical subjects in mind — the warm and cool yellows for sunlit petals and stamens, the rose and deep red for the full range of warm flower tones, the purple for the cool, complex shades that bring depth and shadow to florals, ultramarine for blue flowers and cool shadows, sap green for foliage and stems, and Chinese White for highlights and softening mixes.
The colours are Lemon Yellow Hue, Cadmium Yellow Hue, Cadmium Red Deep Hue, Permanent Rose, Dioxazine Purple, Ultramarine, Sap Green, and Chinese White.
Cotman is Winsor & Newton's student and everyday watercolour range — made to the same quality standards as the Professional range but using more affordable pigment alternatives in some colours to keep prices accessible. The uniform consistency across all Cotman colours is particularly helpful for beginners, who can rely on predictable handling across every pan without having to adjust their technique for different pigment characteristics. Cotman colours match the hue character of their Professional equivalents, so the two ranges can be mixed freely as a palette develops over time.
Contents: 8 half pans, 1 travel brush, space for 4 additional half pans
Why are these specific colours chosen for floral painting? The 8 colours cover the core floral palette — warm and cool yellows for petals and stamens, a deep warm red and a cool rose pink for the full range of flower tones, purple for depth and shadow, ultramarine for blue flowers and cool mixes, sap green for foliage, and Chinese White for highlights and softening. Together they mix to produce a very wide range of floral shades without the palette feeling either limited or cluttered.
Can additional colours be added to the set? Yes — the box has space for 4 additional Cotman half pans, allowing the palette to be expanded as specific colour needs become apparent. Any Cotman half pan from the 40-colour range can be added.
Is it suitable for complete beginners? Yes — the Cotman range is specifically designed to be accessible for beginners, with a uniform consistency across all colours that makes handling predictable and easy to learn. The themed floral selection also removes the decision-making involved in choosing colours for a first set.
Can Cotman colours be mixed with Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour? Yes — the colour names and hues are matched across both ranges, so Cotman and Professional colours can be used alongside each other with minimal adjustment as a painter's range develops over time.
