Fanad Inks

Colorful watercolor swatches on torn paper, labeled with plant names such as Oak Gall, Ultramarine, Red Cabbage with Alum, and Brazilwood & Cochineal, framed in wood.

I make my own inks.

I love how organic, botanic, and mineral pigments work with one another. They create a totally different feeling than that created by inks I buy commercially.

When I began to explore botanic and organic inks, I realised I could not find a reliable, affordable source to buy from. Anyway, I’m much taken by the artisanal process of making my own materials.

So now I concoct inks - sometimes from food stuffs or plants I harvest in Fanad, sometimes from plant and mineral pigments I buy from suppliers.

I especially love how they work on handmade papers.

You can see some of the results of my experiments on this site, especially here

Four watercolor samples on textured paper, each labeled with a different ingredient, with small bottles of ink placed above each sample.

As I only make small batches of each ink in my kitchen at home, and do so primarily for use in my own pictures, I have a limited range for sale - a range that is constantly shifting as plants come in and out of season, and as I use up one batch and have not had time to make more of it.

If you are interested in buying ink from me (£9.50/2oml bottle, £25 for any 3), please drop me a line and I’ll tell you what I have available right now.

Among the inks I make are:

Brazilwood
Oak Gall
Red Cabbage
Coffee
Avocado
Pomegranate
Beetroot
Dandelion
Sequoia

Message me
A piece of paper with a label titled 'Fanad Inks' featuring a product called 'Sequoia & Cream of Tartar,' and a red-brown circular stain on the paper.
A blue circular ink swatch on a piece of white textured paper with a label above it reading 'Fanad Inks Ultramarine'. The label also lists ingredients: Water, Ultramarine Pigment, Thyme Oil, Gum Arabica, and a website 'www.fanadart.com'.
Close-up of a small, round, dark red ink sample on textured white paper with a label indicating it is Brazilwood & Cochineal ink from Fanad Inks.
A close-up of a white textured paper strip with a label that reads 'Fanad Inks Oak Gall & Iron' and contains a sample of dark ink beneath it.