East Quay Arts Centre, Watchet, Somerset, TA23 0AQ

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Two Rivers Paper

Dedicated to maintaining the English tradition of producing the finest handmade cotton and linen papers for artists.

The Paper

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Two Rivers is the paper of choice for many artists worldwide. 

How our papers are made: 

All our products are individually handmade by skilled craftspeople using traditional methods. Two Rivers Watercolour Paper is both forgiving and versatile. The same product can also be used with other media such as acrylics, oils, pastels, printmaking and photographic processes.

Each sheet is made from a blend of cotton and linen, which is reduced to individual fibres using the mill’s Hollander beaters.

Zoe holding the paper pulp in her hands. Two Rivers Paper

Forming the paper sheet by sheet using moulds and deckles gives each one feathery edges and a strength that is the hallmark of European handmade paper.  Our paper has a unique random texture, unlike any machine-made brand. This surface is known as NOT, short for Not Hot Pressed. This also means that both sides can be used as each are equally treated.

Zoe Collis At The Vat making a sheet of handmade paper at East Quay Art Centre in Watchet.

The addition of chalk and neutral size ensures Two Rivers paper is acid-free and will stand the test of time. The inclusion of linen in the paper’s composition results in a tough surface that resists scrubbing and reworking.  Gentle air-drying and gelatine sizing enhance surface strength, allowing the artist to push paint around on the sheet or even remove it. The paint is not drawn into the paper, so the pigment dries to a sharp, brilliant finish.

Becca hanging JMW Turner grey laid paper at Two Rivers Paper Somerset

For coloured paper, lightfast pigments are added, and we can also include other materials, such as jute, hemp, seeds, and petals, to impart special characteristics. 

MIXED SIZES cornflower handmade paper Two Rivers Paper with Blue petals

The process from raw material to the finished sheet takes around 3 – 4 working days. Making paper this way is a real labour of love.

Plein air sketch books 15 x 15cm in press ready to be glued.

As well as individual sheets, we make our own sketchbooks in-house, bound with the same care that goes into the paper itself. Whether you’re looking for something to take out into the field or for use in your studio, there’s something in the range for most ways of working. We pack all our orders in sustainable, plastic-free packaging. 

Browse the full range in our shop.

Credit to Jackson’s Art, who filmed paper production at our former location in 2020.