About Bristle
A creative home for artists
We bring together inspiration, practical learning, and a welcoming community to support every stage of your creative practice.
From your first sketch to your next big breakthrough, Bristle helps you keep creating with confidence.
Our Story
Built for people who love making art
Bristle didn't start in a boardroom — it started with a paintbrush. In 1931, commercial artist Harold Sawkins founded The Artist magazine, giving painters a voice at a time when art education was hard to come by. In 1967, Leisure Painter joined the family, launched by colourmakers Reeves as a quarterly magazine for hobbyist artists.
For decades these titles grew side by side, and in 2001 they joined forces to launch the TALP Open Competition and Exhibition with The Patchings Art Centre. Then, in 2007, the brands moved online with the launch of Painters Online — a dedicated digital home for artists of every ability. In 2024, Start Art was introduced to help beginners take their first creative steps through video, demonstrations and supportive email guidance.
In September 2026, that lineage became Bristle. It's not a new brand starting from zero — it's the next chapter of a nearly century-old story, reimagined for a modern audience while holding onto the trust and authority built over generations.
Our Timeline
A legacy built over generations
1931
The Artist is founded by commercial artist Harold Sawkins.
1967
Leisure Painter launches, published by colourmakers Reeves.
2001
The Artist and Leisure Painter launch the TALP Open Competition and Exhibition with The Patchings Art Centre.
2007
Painters Online launches as the online home for both magazines.
2024
Start Art launches, helping beginners build confidence through video and guided learning.
2025
Leisure Painter & The Artist unite, delivering expert guidance across web, video, webinars and email.
2026
Bristle launches in September, carrying the trust of a historic brand into its next chapter.
Our mission
To connect Britain's creative community with the brands, ideas and experiences that genuinely enrich their lives, and to give that community a platform worthy of its passion, skill and loyalty. As David Ogilvy put it: "Don't count the number of people you reach, reach the people that count."
Our values
We champion craftsmanship and quality in everything we make, and we keep our recommendations and partnerships genuine because that's what earns trust. We carry nearly a century of heritage forward without standing still, welcoming emerging, developing and professional artists alike at every stage of their creative journey. In a fast-scrolling world, we'd rather build things worth keeping than chase reach for its own sake.
What you can expect
A digital ecosystem artists return to daily, plus Bristle magazine, our premium collectible quarterly, all backed by a highly engaged community, 91% trust our recommendations, 83% find our partnerships relevant, and 1 in 5 members have purchased directly through a Bristle platform in the past year. We're stocked in over 1,300 UK & Ireland retailers and powered by Warners Group's 150+ specialists across marketing, data, creative and events.
Join our community
Ready to create more with Bristle Studio?
Unlock full access to member-only tutorials, competitions, and inspiration designed for committed artists.