The Whitby Painting Outline Collection

Immerse yourself in the relaxing art of painting with this beautifully presented collection of ready-to-paint scenes. Designed specially for those who hold the North Yorkshire coast close to their heart and love to get creative, this set allows you to bring your favourite seaside memories to life through your own artistic vision.

The collection features 8 unique outline designs showcasing iconic Whitby landmarks and coastal views. Each scene is printed onto 200 GSM Cold Press Watercolour Paper. This lightly textured, heavyweight surface is expertly crafted to handle moisture, making it ideal for our recommended mediums of watercolour paints or pencils. 

Your Step-by-Step Painting Guide

Whether you are an experienced artist or picking up a brush for the first time, here is a quick guide to help you get the most out of your painting outlines.

What You Will Need to Start

The Essentials: Watercolour paints (or pencils), a Size 8 and a Size 2 round brush, low-tack masking tape, a mixing palette (an old ceramic plate works perfectly!), paper towels, and two jars of water.

Optional Extras (depending on your style): A white pigment ink pen or white gouache (for bringing back crisp white highlights over dried paint), and a waterproof black fineliner pen (we recommend a 0.1–0.3mm nib for delicate, intricate line work, or a 0.8–1.0mm nib for a bolder, more graphic style).

1. Prepare Your Coastal Studio Before you begin, secure the edges of your painting sheet to a flat board or table using masking tape; this will keep the paper nice and flat when it gets wet. Gather your paints, a mixing palette, some paper towels, and two jars of clean water (one for washing your brush, one for mixing fresh colours). If you are buying brushes for the first time, a Size 8 Round (for skies) and a Size 2 Round (for fine details) are all you need! If you are using pencils, get your favourite set and find a comfortable, well-lit spot.

2. Plan Your Palette Take a moment to decide on your colours. You can stick to the traditional, moody blues and greys of the North Sea, or experiment with a vibrant, imaginative palette! A little colour theory goes a long way, try mixing primary colours to find your perfect coastal shades, or use complementary colours (opposites on the colour wheel, like blue and orange) to make certain elements pop.

3. Build Your Layers If using watercolours or wet mediums, start with light, watery washes for your skies and backgrounds. Watercolour is all about transparency, so it is always best to work from your lightest colours to your darkest. Be patient and allow each layer to fully dry before adding the next; this prevents your beautiful colours from mixing into mud. Remember, watercolour has a mind of its own: if the paint blooms or you make a "mistake," celebrate it as part of your unique artistic style! Don't feel overwhelmed; all you need to do is enjoy the process.

4. Add the Final Details Once your larger areas of colour are completely dry, take a fine-tip brush to pick out the delicate details, such as the brickwork of the cottages or the texture of the coastal grass. If you find you need to bring back some bright whites after the watercolour is already on the paper, consider using a white pigment ink pen, a white pastel pencil, or some white gouache to add those crisp highlights. If you prefer a more illustrated or sketchy style, this is the perfect time to experiment with sharpened pencils or a fine art pen to add those final, characterful touches!

5. The Finishing Touches Ensure your artwork is completely dry before gently peeling away the masking tape at an angle to avoid tearing the paper. If the paper has buckled slightly during painting, place it between two clean sheets of paper under a heavy book for a day or two to flatten it out. Your Whitby masterpiece is now ready to be framed!

Set Includes: 8 unique Whitby outline designs ready to be painted or coloured, Step-by-Step Painting Guide.

Paper Quality: Professional 200 GSM Cold Press Watercolour Paper, A4 size.

Recommended Mediums: Perfect for watercolour paints and watercolour pencils. The versatile surface is also beautifully suited for standard colouring pencils, acrylics, and gouache.

Presentation: bundled and hand-tied with natural rustic twine, making it a wonderful gift for any creative soul.