Michael Harding Artists Oil Paints are, quite simply, some of the finest handmade paints on the market.
Michael Harding Artists Oil Paints are, quite simply, some of the finest handmade paints on the market.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Best for: Professional artists who want uncompromising pigment quality and handling.
Every tube feels crafted with the painter in mind — from the buttery texture to the extraordinary pigment load. Harding’s aim to “create colours that excite the eye” is immediately evident once the paint hits the canvas.
The consistency is luxurious: smooth, pliable, and richly pigmented without the waxiness that some machine-filled oils can have. Colours like Cadmium Red Deep and Ultramarine Blue are intense yet mix cleanly, never greying out mid-blend. The drying time is moderate, allowing comfortable working time for blending and glazing.
Each paint is made with single, high-quality pigments wherever possible, giving clarity and depth that’s hard to beat. Their Lead White No. 1 remains a benchmark for traditionalists, while modern pigments such as Perylene Black and Quinacridone Gold show how the range has expanded with contemporary practice in mind.
These paints are expensive — but you use less per stroke because of the pigment density. For professional work, that efficiency offsets the price.
“Michael Harding oils are a painter’s paint — the tactile quality and purity of pigment encourage expressive, confident work. If you want to know what top-tier oil paint should feel like, this is it.”