My standard plain handmade paper is made from recycled cotton rags. Unlike some manufacturers, I do not dilute the rag pulp with recycled paper; and I use no bleaches or artificial chemicals. My handmade paper has plenty of ‘tooth’ – a furriness of surface, that gives you enhanced control when sketching with dry media such as charcoal, crayons, pastels, pencil etc. It is also suitable for synthetic inks (ballpoint, fibre, gel pens) and even oils. As with all handmade paper, however, there will be a degree of ‘bleeding’ if you use water-based inks or water colour.

I do not produce my own cartridge paper, but I do supply a plain ivory cartridge paper of the highest quality. This paper is suitable for water-based inks and water colour, as well as ‘dry’ media.

Many people want the ‘tooth’ of handmade paper, but wish to use it with wet media (inks and water colour). For this purpose I have developed a ‘sealed’ handmade paper. It still has plenty of texture, but is sealed with a blend of organic substances that prevent ‘bleeding’. For connoisseurs of fine paper I also offer this paper with ‘deckled edges’.

Look out for dullness or ‘greyness’ and a mushy texture – these are signs that recycled paper has been added at pulping stage, in order to swell production and cut costs.

Hold a sheet of the paper to the light and check it for unevenness (one side of the page may be thick, while the other side is thin; or there are humps and hollows throughout) – signs of insufficient care at the mixing or pulping stage, and inadequate rolling and pressing. Unevenness in the thickness of paper severely reduces your control of shading and colouring.

Avoid paper that is suspiciously bright or white – this effect can only be achieved by bleaching. The addition of such chemicals to paper will compromise the durability of pigments and will eventually cause your work to degrade.