DERWENT

heritage

With a proud heritage dating back to 1832, we have been manufacturing pencils in the Lake District, UK ever since. With over 150 years of know-how packed into every pencil and art tool, our creative and scientific minds never cease in their quest for new ideas. Obsessing over the highest quality of materials and forever creating an ever evolving and exceptional range to meet the requirements of every artist. We will keep pushing our boundaries so that artists can keep pushing theirs.

The Derwent Mission

For generations, artists have chosen and trusted the Derwent® brand for art materials around the world. With a proud heritage dating back to 1832, Derwent’s innovation comes from a deep understanding of artists. Derwent appreciates that their needs and aspirations may change over their artistic life, and with this in mind has produced a range of art materials that span from the first colouring pencil to the highest professional quality products ­– the majority of which are made in their British manufacturing plant in the Lake District, Cumbria, UK.
 
Quality, craftsmanship and innovation are key cornerstones of the Derwent brand. This is achieved by setting stringent quality control in the production of all products across a wide array of art categories. Perfecting the art of pencil manufacturing in the Lake District over generations, Derwent’s wide range of pencils is synonymous with quality and craftsmanship. Artistry is threaded through the core of every Derwent product, delivering world-class artists’ materials at every stage of the creative journey.

The involvement and collaboration of artists is fundamental to Derwent, featuring work from international artists on its full range of products, as well as representing consumers’ opinions in focus groups thereby reaffirming their long-standing commitment to the art and hobbyist community. In summary, Derwent seeks to give consumers, above all else, a highly personalised experience which meets their individual artistic requirements.

Derwent Pencil Museum

Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica graphite mine which would have served as the source of the pencil industry over three centuries ago.

A journey of graphite and pencil discovery from its humble beginnings as a cottage industry to modern day production.

Discover our secret WW2 pencils with hidden maps; one of the largest colour pencils in the world measuring almost 8 metres; The Queen's diamond Jubilee pencil; miniature pencil sculptures; and much more!