Welcome to the Watercolour World

The Watercolour World

We are a UK-based charity working with public and private collections from around the world to create a free online database of documentary watercolours painted before 1900. Watercolours are extraordinary records of our shared past. It is our hope and belief that this project will encourage those lucky enough to hold watercolours to make them available online, unconditionally, to everyone.

Some of our favourite paintings

China

c. 1800 - c. 1850

Victoria, Australia

Undated

Chile

between 1820 and 1822

Lahaina, Hawaii, USA

c.1855

USA

1863

Penang Botanical Gardens, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

1879

Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England

16th April 1874

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Themes and Albums

When did picnics become popular?

A short introduction to the history of outdoor eating

Cricket through the ages

As the Cricket World Cup gets underway, we look back at the origins of the game