Great artists would travel miles for a specific coloured pigment, Rembrandt was particularly fond of a yellow ochre from Cyprus. Prior to the mid 18th Century pigments were made from natural materials or created through chemical processes that involved materials found in the earth.

 

Many of these 'pigments' also doubled as remedies such as yellow antimony, a lovely soft colour, that was also prescribed as an eye ointment. For centuries what we now know as pharmacies or chemist shops were known as Apothecaries. These apothecaries were a hub of trade, a place where artists could get the materials they needed to produce great paintings, oils, resins, tree gums and ofcourse - pigments.

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As my research grew, my awe and fascination into the original materials of paint grew and likewise my collection of glass jars with all the wonderful samples grew. One day I looked around the studio and realised I had created an Apothecary.