Sketchbooks
Papers built to handle wet media
As your pens move beyond writing into sketching and painting, the paper starts to matter just as much as the tool itself. Wet media needs a surface that can handle more liquid without feathering, warping or breaking down.
Strength comes from paper weight, surface sizing and fibre type. For fountain pens and ink, we generally recommend 150–200gsm paper. For watercolour, 250gsm+ gives better durability and control.
Choose cold press paper to emphasise texture and pigment movement, or smooth hot press paper for detailed work and fine line pens. Spiral bindings are practical for travel and quick studies, while stitched bindings are better for double page spreads.
Popular choices for fountain pen sketching include Stillman & Birn Alpha softcovers and Global Hand-Book. Watercolour sketchbooks with cotton paper take longer to dry, providing more time to adjust your work.
For a deeper comparison of surfaces, sizing and texture, explore our blog guide to sketchbooks and wet media papers.
Filters
- FABRIANO Accademia (1)
- FABRIANO Studio (1)
- HAND-BOOK Travelogue (14)
- STILLMAN Alpha (12)
- STILLMAN Beta (12)
- STILLMAN Epsilon (8)
- STILLMAN Gamma (2)
- STILLMAN Zeta (9)
- CLAIREFONTAINE Fontaine (0)
- DALER Ebony (0)
- FABRIANO Venezia (0)
- HAHNE Akademie (0)
- HAHNE Nostalgie (0)
- HAHNE Sketch & Note (0)
- HAHNE Watercolour Book (0)
- HAHNE ZigZag (0)
- LEUCHTTURM1917 Sketchbook (0)
- MIDORI MD Sketchbook (0)
- MOLESKINE Art (0)
- RHODIA Touch (0)
- SEAWHITE All-Media (0)
- SEAWHITE Concertina (0)
- SEAWHITE Eco (0)
- SEAWHITE Super Brit (0)
- SEAWHITE Travel Sketchbook (0)
- SEAWHITE Watercolour (0)
- SEAWHITE WC Travel (0)
- STILLMAN Delta (0)
- STILLMAN Nova (0)
- STRATHMORE Series 500 (0)
- TRAVELERS Regular (0)
- TRAVELERS Spiral Ring Notebook (0)
HAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Watercolour Journal (300gsm) - Insta Square (8.25 x 8.25" / 21 x 21cm) - Grey Linen
Bound in natural linen, these three new journals offer watercolorists an attractive and practical option for travel painting. Inside are 60 pages o...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Delta Hard Cover Sketchbook - A4 (8.25 x 11.75") - 270gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Zeta Hard Cover Sketchbook - A4 (8.25 x 11.75") - 270gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Hard Cover Sketchbook - A4 (8.25 x 11.75"/21.0 x 29.7cm) - 270gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Hard Cover Sketchbook - A4 (8.25 x 11.75" / 21 x 29.7 cm) - 150gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Sketchbook - Softcover - Portrait XL (8 x 10" / 20.3 x 25.4cm) - 150gsm
This is the same Alpha paper as in the Stillman & Birn Alpha hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made thi...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Sketchbook - Softcover - Portrait XL (8 x 10" / 20.3 x 25.4cm) - 270gsm
This is the same BETA paper as in the Stillman & Birn BETA hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made this ...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Epsilon Sketchbook - Softcover - Portrait XL (8 x 10" / 20.3 x 25.4cm) - 150gsm
This is the same Epsilon paper as in the Stillman & Birn Epsilon hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Zeta Sketchbook - Softcover - Portrait XL (8 x 10" / 20.3 x 25.4cm) - 270gsm
This is the same ZETA paper as in the Stillman & Birn Zeta hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made this ...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Watercolour Journal (200gsm) - Grand Portrait (10.5 x 8.25" / 27 x 21cm) - Grey Linen
Bound in natural linen, these three new journals offer watercolorists an attractive and practical option for travel painting. Inside are 60 pages o...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Zeta Sketchbook - Softcover - Square (7.5 x 7.5" / 19 x 19 cm) - 270gsm - 26 Sheets
This is the same ZETA paper as in the Stillman & Birn Zeta hard cover sketchbooks. Contains 270gsm, smooth, white paper that suits fountain pe...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Watercolour Journal (200gsm) - Insta Square (8.25 x 8.25" / 21 x 21cm) - Grey Linen
Bound in natural linen, these three new journals offer watercolorists an attractive and practical option for travel painting. Inside are 60 pages o...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Hard Cover Sketchbook - A5+ Landscape (9 x 6") - 150gsm - 62 Sheets
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Hard Cover Sketchbook - Spiral - (7 x 10"/17.8 x 25.4cm) - 150gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Hard Cover Sketchbook - Spiral - (7 x 10"/17.8 x 25.4cm) - 270gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Epsilon Hard Cover Sketchbook - A5 (5.5 x 8.5") - 150gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Watercolour Journal (300gsm) - A5 Landscape (13 x 21cm) - Grey Linen
Bound in natural linen, these three new journals offer watercolorists an attractive and practical option for travel painting. Inside are 60 pages o...
View full detailsCANSON (Saunders Waterford) Spiral Art Book - Cold Press - 300gsm - 100% Cotton - A5 Landscape - 40 Pages
A watercolour sketchbook with beautiful 100% cotton Saunders Waterford paper. 100% cotton rag. Acid free. Available cold press surface only. Spiral...
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STILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Sketchbook - Softcover - Square (7.5 x 7.5" / 19 x 19 cm) - 150gsm - 46 Sheets
STILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Sketchbook - Softcover - Square (7.5 x 7.5" / 19 x 19 cm) - 150gsm - 46 Sheets
This is the same Beta paper as in the Stillman & Birn Beta hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made this ...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Zeta Hard Cover Sketchbook - A5 (5.5 x 8.5") - 270gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Hard Cover Sketchbook - A5 (5.5 x 8.5"/14.0 x 21.6cm) - 270gsm - 26 Sheets
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Hard Cover Sketchbook - Spiral - Square (7 x 7"/17.8 x 17.8cm) - 270gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Sketchbook - Softcover - A5 Landscape (8.5 x 5.5" / 21.6 x 14 cm) - 150gsm
This is the same Alpha paper as in the Stillman & Birn Alpha hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made thi...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Sketchbook - Softcover - A5 Portrait (5.5 x 8.5" / 14 x 21.6 cm) - 150gsm - 46 Sheets
This is the same Alpha paper as in the Stillman & Birn Alpha hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made thi...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Sketchbook - Softcover - A5 Portrait (5.5 x 8.5" / 14 x 21.6 cm) - 270gsm - 26 Sheets
This is the same BETA paper as in the Stillman & Birn BETA hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made this ...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Hard Cover Sketchbook - Spiral - (6 x 8"/15.2 x 20.3cm) - 270gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Zeta Sketchbook - Softcover - A5 Landscape (8.5 x 5.5" / 21.6 x 14 cm) - 270gsm
This is the same ZETA paper as in the Stillman & Birn Zeta hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made this ...
View full detailsFABRIANO Classic Artist's Journal - Ingres Paper - 90gsm - A5+ (16 x 21cm) - 192 Sheets
The FABRIANO artist's journal is an elegant travel diary, ideal for capturing emotions or simply for taking notes. The "Classic" version is disting...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Hard Cover Sketchbook - ~A5 (5.5 x 8.5" / 14 x 21.6 cm) - 150gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Sketchbook - Softcover - A5 Landscape (8.5 x 5.5" / 21.6 x 14 cm) - 270gsm
This is the same BETA paper as in the Stillman & Birn BETA hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made this ...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Epsilon Sketchbook - Softcover - A5 Portrait (5.5 x 8.5" / 14 x 21.6 cm) - 150gsm
This is the same Epsilon paper as in the Stillman & Birn Epsilon hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Zeta Sketchbook - Softcover - A5 Portrait (5.5 x 8.5" / 14 x 21.6 cm) - 270gsm
This is the same ZETA paper as in the Stillman & Birn Zeta hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made this ...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Hard Cover Sketchbook - (9 x 6") - 270gsm - 26 Sheets
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Epsilon Hard Cover Sketchbook - Spiral - (6 x 8"/15.2 x 20.3cm) - 150gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Watercolour Journal (200gsm) - A5 Portrait (5.5 x 8.25" / 14 x 21cm) - Grey Linen
Bound in natural linen, these three new journals offer watercolorists an attractive and practical option for travel painting. Inside are 60 pages o...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Drawing Sketchbook (~130gsm) - Large Portrait (8.25 x 5.5" / 21 x 14cm) - Ivory Black Cloth
This is a great sketchbook for dry media including pencil, pen, markers, pen & ink. Will also accept light watercolour without buckling the pap...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Epsilon Sketchbook - Softcover - A5 Landscape (8.5 x 5.5" / 21.6 x 14 cm) - 150gsm
This is the same Epsilon paper as in the Stillman & Birn Epsilon hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made...
View full detailsCANSON (Montval) Spiral Art Book - Cold Press - 300gsm - 20 x 20cm - 48 Pages
Ideal for watercolour - Cold pressed - Weight:  300 gsm - 48 pages / 24 sheets - FSC®  certification Made in United Kingdom. Â
HAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Watercolour Journal (200gsm) - A5 Landscape (13 x 21cm) - Grey Linen
Bound in natural linen, these three new journals offer watercolorists an attractive and practical option for travel painting. Inside are 60 pages o...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Hard Cover Sketchbook - A6 Portrait (4 x 6" / 10.2 x 15.2 cm) - 150gsm
Only Stillman & Birn offers a sketchbook system that gives artists the choice of paper weight, shade, and surface type best suited to their spe...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Drawing Sketchbook (~130gsm) - Large Landscape (5.5 x 8.25" / 14 x 21cm) - Black Cloth
This is a great sketchbook for dry media including pencil, pen, markers, pen & ink. Will also accept light watercolour without buckling the pap...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Epsilon Sketchbook - Softcover - A6 Portrait (3.5 x 5.5" / 8.9 x 14 cm) - 150gsm
This is the same Epsilon paper as in the Stillman & Birn Epsilon hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Drawing Sketchbook (~130gsm) - Pocket Portrait (5.5 x 3.5" / 14 x 9.5cm) - Ivory Black Cloth
This is a great sketchbook for dry media including pencil, pen, markers, pen & ink. Will also accept light watercolour without buckling the pap...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Drawing Sketchbook (~130gsm) - Pocket Landscape (3.5 x 5.5" / 9 x 14cm) - Black Cloth
This is a great sketchbook for dry media including pencil, pen, markers, pen & ink. Will also accept light watercolour without buckling the pap...
View full detailsHAND-BOOK JOURNAL CO - Travelogue Series - Watercolour Journal (200gsm) - Pocket Panorama (9 x 21cm) - Grey Linen
Bound in natural linen, these three new journals offer watercolorists an attractive and practical option for travel painting. Inside are 60 pages o...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Sketchbook - Softcover - A6 Landscape (5.5 x 3.5" / 14 x 8.9 cm) - 150gsm
This is the same Alpha paper as in the Stillman & Birn Alpha hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made thi...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Alpha Sketchbook - Softcover - A6 Portrait (3.5 x 5.5" / 8.9 x 14 cm) - 150gsm
This is the same Alpha paper as in the Stillman & Birn Alpha hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made thi...
View full detailsSTILLMAN & BIRN Beta Sketchbook - Softcover - A6 Landscape (5.5 x 3.5" /8.9 x 14 cm) - 270gsm
This is the same BETA paper as in the Stillman & Birn BETA hard cover sketchbooks. Stillman and Birn listened to urban sketchers and made this ...
View full details