When the Reeves brothers unveiled the first watercolour paintbox in 1766, they didn’t just make painting easier – they started a creative revolution. For the first time, you didn’t need a studio, knowledge of how to grind pigments, or years of training to paint.
With this newly available pocket-sized box of paints, and a brush dipped in water, anyone could paint – in a parlour, on a hillside, or while travelling with friends.
During the Renaissance period, painting was largely confined to professional workshops, because making and transporting paint was difficult and expensive. To become an artist, you had to train in a studio, grinding pigments and preparing paints by hand. Alternatively, you could buy them from a specialist paint supplier known as a colourman.
But by the 18th century, everything began to change. In 1766, the Reeves brothers of London introduced the first commercially prepared watercolour cakes (also known as pans). Suddenly, with a simple brush dipped in water, anyone could paint – without the messy, time-consuming process of preparing pigments from scratch.
For the first time, amateurs – particularly middle and upper class women, who weren’t often admitted into formal studios – could take up painting as a social pastime. These portable little boxes meant that friends could gather to paint landscapes, flowers, and scenes from everyday life.
This revolutionary invention of portability of watercolours sparked a new fashion: painting tours. By the late 18th and early 19th century, travellers across Britain and Europe carried sketchbooks and paintboxes to record what they saw. The Lake District in England became a favourite destination, with groups setting off together to capture its lakes and hills – a kind of artistic souvenir long before photography.
By the 19th century, painting clubs, sketching societies, and amateur art groups had sprung up across Europe and America. Some organised outdoor excursions, while others met in drawing rooms or hired halls. Everywhere, painting became a shared experience rather than a solitary one.
And that’s the real magic: painting in a group doesn’t just produce a picture – it creates stories, laughter, and memories.
So when you pick up a brush at a Paintvine event, you’re not simply joining a class. You’re stepping into a tradition that stretches back centuries – of friends gathering, colours flowing, and creativity being shared. So check out our upcoming events, grab your mates, dates, friends and family – and come and experience the joy of social painting with Paintvine!
