Payne's Gray is a dark blue grey made from a mixture of Ultramarine, Mars Black and sometimes Crimson. It was named after the 18th c. water-colourist William Payne who created the mixture and often recommended it to his students as an alternative to plain black.

Cotman Watercolours use fine art pigments with reduced pigment load than the Professional Watercolour range, making them an accessible choice while still uncompromising on quality. Rated AA and A for Excellent and Good lightfastness, Cotman Watercolour gives artist the reassurance expected from a quality watercolour range.