Michael Harding built his reputation making oil paint by hand in Cook's Yard, Whitechapel, in the early 1980s — and the formula hasn't changed in any way that matters. No fillers, no extenders, no compromises on pigment load. You'll notice it the moment you open a tube: the paint has a weight and density that most factory-made ranges simply don't match.

The range runs to 125 colours in the 40ml size, organised into seven price series by pigment cost. Series 1 uses earth pigments and synthetic oxides; Series 7 reaches genuine Lapis Lazuli — ground Afghan stone — at the top end. That transparency about what's inside each tube, and what it costs to make, is rare in this industry.

These are long-oil paints with a buttery, responsive consistency. Pigment concentration is deliberately high, which means you'll use less paint than with most professional ranges to achieve the same opacity or chroma. Drying time varies by pigment — earth colours and lead-containing pigments dry faster; cadmiums and cobalts are slower. Every tube is labelled with pigment name, lightfastness rating, and opacity.

Well suited to alla prima, glazing, impasto, and mixed-technique working. The high pigment load makes them excellent for tinting mediums and grounds. Cadmium colours (Series 4 and 5) require normal safe-handling precautions: don't sand dry paint, wash hands after use. Browse the full range at Michael Harding Oil Paint.

• Size: 40ml tube
• Colours available: 125 colours in 40ml
• Price series: 7 series (S1–S7) by pigment cost
• Binder: Cold-pressed linseed oil (varies by pigment)
• Fillers / extenders: None
• Lightfastness: Rated per colour; marked on tube
• Made in: South Wales, UK
• Brand: Michael Harding