Watercolour

The V&A has a collection of more than 7000 watercolours spanning Medieval art to the present day. It showcases the use of watercolour in European art from illuminated manuscripts, studies in design and botanical illustration to portrait miniatures and narrative scenes. British landscapes and topographical studies are a strength of the collection, with key works by JMW Turner and John Constable. 

Highlights include works by Jacob Jordaens, Francis Towne and John Robert Cozens, the Pre-Raphaelites, Beatrix Potter, and modernists such as Paul Nash, Frances Hodgkins and Emil Nolde, as well as contemporary work, including those by Lubaina Himid and David Remfry. 

Search “Watercolour” in Explore the Collections

Features

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What is watercolour? 

Our extensive collection of watercolours tell a fascinating story of the medium

  1. Read

    Samuel Palmer and his visionary landscapes

    Rediscovering the spiritual and joyous depiction of nature

  2. Interact

    The botanical album of Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues

    Explore the 16th century album of exquisite watercolours in high definition

  3. Watch

    A watercolour painting of a pomegranate by Lucy T Smith

    Possibly the most soothing 40 minutes experience you'll have this week
  4. Watch

    Eric Ravilious – British wood engraver and watercolour artist

    Discover more about the life and works of British wood engraver and watercolour artist Eric Ravilious.
  5. Read

    Constable's watercolour sketches

    Take a closer look at the techniques used by Constable in his later works
  6. Watch

    Renaissance watercolours: materials and techniques

    Discover the qualities that made watercolour the medium of choice for artists during the Renaissance
  7. Watch

    Handling and care of precious books: ASMR

    Experience the National Art Library – a calm and tranquil yet deeply sensory space

Collection highlights

Show all
  1. drawing
    A Fashionable Marriage, drawing, by Lubaina Himid, 1986, London
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  2. Double sided calendar leaf. The Month of May has a boating party in the foreground. April depicts courting couples.
    Double-sided leaf from a calendar, by Simon Bening, 1510 – 60, Flanders, Belgium
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  3. watercolour of a yellow lemon. It is bumpy in texture
    Citron, watercolour, by Vincenzo Leonardi, about 1640, Rome, Italy
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  4. Watercolour of Holy Island, Northumberland, with people rushing ashore in small rowing boats. Castle in the background.
    Holy Island, Northumberland, by Joseph Mallord William Turner, about 1829, England
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  5. A women seen mainly from the back but head in right profile and arms outstretched looks out to a sea full of rocks.
    Dorigen of Bretagne longing for the safe return of her husband, by Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1871, England
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  6. watercolour
    Stonehenge, watercolour, by John Constable, 1835, Salisbury, England
  7. watercolour
    The Source of the Arveiron, with Mont Blanc in the Background, watercolour, by Francis Towne, 1781, France
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  8. drawing
    Gilded Amanita (Amanita franchetii), by Beatrix Potter, 1890s, watercolour over pencil on paper.
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  9. watercolour
    The Eclipse of the Sunflower, watercolour, by Paul Nash, 1945, Britain
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  10. drawing
    Christ, St Paul, Charity and the Theological Virtues, drawing, by Jacob Jordaens, about 1660, Belgium
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  11. watercolour
    Ornaments with Flowers, watercolour, by Frances Hodgkins, 1942, Britain
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  12. watercolour
    Friesland Farm under red clouds, watercolour, painted by Emil Nolde, about 1930, Friesland, Germany
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  13. watercolour
    The Resurrection: The angel rolling away the stone from the sepulchre, watercolour, by William Blake, about 1808, England
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  14. watercolour
    Girl in a Hat Shop, watercolour, by David Remfry, 1982
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  15. drawing
    Study of a tulip, watercolour sketch, by Mary Moser, about 1764 – 1800, Britain
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
islamic tile
person working with clay with their hands
two women sat on a long green chair looking away from camera
woman working with a pen in hand on a black mannequin head

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Header image:
Dorigen of Bretagne longing for the safe return of her husband, by Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1871, England. Museum no. CAI.10. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London