Scots Pines by Alan Watson Featherstone

A unique international art collaboration for Caledonian Forest has been unveiled in Edinburgh on behalf of Trees for Life. It has been organised by Trevor Jones who says in his notes to the exhibition:
“This is a fantastic opportunity to support a great cause and to own an original work of art. Moreover, every artist is very generously donating 100% of the sales to Trees for Life! The United Nations declared 2011 International Year of Forests and early next year Trees for Life aims to plant its one millionth tree! This would be an amazing achievement and we want to help make this a reality by raising £10 000 through this exhibition.”

Each artwork is available for £45, with all the proceeds going to Trees for Life. For more details, see http://treesforlifeexhibition.blogspot.com or call Trees for Life on 0845 458 3505.

Trees for Life is an award winning conservation charity working to restore the Caledonian Forest and all its species to a large contiguous area in the Highlands of Scotland.
Jackson’s Art Supplies has been supporting Trees For Life for two years.

Jackson’s teamed up with TFL last year to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of

Jackson’s Watercolour Sets towards planting trees. We have received an update on the number of trees planted: 301. Fantastic! Thanks to everyone who bought a set. Well done!

In terms of our packaging and shipping of orders we re-use our materials wherever this is possible, which in fact uses up less environmental resources even than recycling. So we re-use the cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and other packaging materials in which goods arrive to us, to send out orders to our customers. We group items into as few deliveries as possible to ensure that we use less packaging (and also petrol!) to deliver orders to our customers, and a few of our customers come into the shops to buy their items, which again saves on packaging and transport.

When we publish a new catalogue we do not send out copies automatically to every single past or present customer we have on file- we selectively send it to people who we think would still be interested in ordering. This saves on paper, printing and posting. Our special offers are advertised through e-mail rather than sending out paper copies to every customer.

In terms of our office practices: when we print out orders on paper we also tend to reuse this paper by printing or writing on the other side before turning to fresh sheets of paper. We keep recycling bins in our office which we use to recycle paper waste and we return our printer cartridges to the manufacturer for recycling.

Furthermore, we sell a number of products which are more environmentally friendly. The wood used to make our stretcher bars “comes from sustainable well-managed forests”, as attested by the manufacturer’s FSC certificate (Forest Stewardship Council). We also have our own brand of Jackson’s Eco paper: normally, the machinery which turns paper pulp into dry watercolour paper uses a lot of energy, but instead this paper is made from recycled cotton and left to dry naturally in the sun. Even the water used to produce this is then channeled into irrigating neighbouring fields! We also stock another eco paper made by Fabriano, made from 100% recycled pulp and produced using hydro power. There are products we stock which are made from bamboo which is a sustainable material: Hahnemuhle digital and mixed media papers, and Chinese pens. Da Vinci brushes are made in an eco-friendly factory.

It was nice to see that we are doing pretty well. I am sure we can do even better and we will keep looking for ways to be environmentally conscious.

Trees For Life

Trees For Life will plant a tree for every set of our new watercolours that is sold. You will receive a certificate of planting with your set.

Jackson’s watercolours are made to the exact same standards as the best professional artists’ watercolours. Available in 21ml tubes and full pans as well as sets of full pans in metal tins. You can choose from three sizes of sets that are made up or 3 sizes of sets where you get to choose the colours. You get premium quality at Jackson’s price.

Click here to go to the Jackson’s Watercolour sets.

Jackson's Watercolour Set

Caligo Inks

For printmakers interested in non-toxic printmaking, we are pleased to offer a new and innovative range of oil-based inks that can be washed away with liquid soap and water, without the need for harmful and often more expensive solvents. Caligo ‘Safe Wash’ Inks are available for both relief and intaglio printing. “Relief printing” includes the very popular lino printing and “intaglio” includes etching.

Caligo Safewash Printmaking Inks are now available at great prices at Jackson’s Art Supplies! We have a number of enthusiastic printmakers on staff who have wanted us to stock these inks for ages. We are very pleased to be dealing with a product of this quality. The oil base means that the colours are rich and the ink has a traditional surface that is recognisable as being oil. The water clean-up means no toxic and messy solvents in your home or studio, so it is environmentally friendly. The best of both worlds!

These inks are made in the UK. Caligo was recognised as the Welsh ‘Small Environmental Company of the Year’ for the development of their environmentally friendly Safe Wash Inks.

Caligo Safewash Relief Inks at Jackson’s

Caligo Safewash Etching Inks at Jackson’s

More info on the Caligo website.

The Printmaking Department at Jackson’s Art Supplies

Caligo Inks

Trees For Life

Jackson’s watercolours are made to the exact same standards as the best professional artists’ watercolours. Available in 21ml tubes and full pans as well as sets of full pans in metal tins. You can choose from three sizes of sets that are made up or 3 sizes of sets where you get to choose the colours. You get premium quality at Jackson’s price.

Click here to go to the Jackson’s Watercolour sets.

Jackson's Watercolour Set

Our very own eco-friendly 100% cotton, internally & externally gelatine sized, deckle edged handmade paper from India.

The machinery normally used to make paper uses a lot of energy, turning paper pulp into a giant roll of perfectly dry paper in barely a minute. Our handmade papers however are made from recycled cotton, individually set into the moulds and then dried slowly in the Indian sun. The water used in the production is then run off to irrigate the field neighbouring the factory. This paper is also at an unbeatable price.

Available in three weights: 140, 200 and 560lb and in three surface textures: smooth/medium, medium/rough and extra rough.

An extra special feature: because this paper is made in special small moulds the 1/4 and 1/2 sheets are deckled on all four sides – they are only available in the 140lb & 200lb papers.

On offer: 20% off the regular discounted price until April 19th

Jackson's ECO Watercolour Paper

Jackson's Watercolour 18 Set in Metal Folding Box

Help the environment!
Trees For Life will plant a tree for every set of our new watercolours that is sold.  You will receive a certificate of planting with your set.