Winsor & Newton ProMarker Buying Guide — Which Set Is Right for You?
ProMarker is one of the most used alcohol markers in professional illustration, graphic design, fashion design, and architecture across the UK. As an authorised Winsor & Newton stockist with 189 individual colours in stock, we're frequently asked the same questions: where should I start? Which set should I buy? What's the difference between the marker types? This guide answers all of it.
A brief history worth knowing
ProMarker was originally made by Letraset — the same company that invented dry transfer lettering and dominated the graphic design industry from the 1960s onwards. When Winsor & Newton acquired the ProMarker range it kept the same formulation and quality that designers had relied on for decades, which is why you'll still see older references to "Letraset ProMarker" online. If you've used them before under either name, they're the same pen.
The four ProMarker types
ProMarker (standard) — the core alcohol-based twin-tipped marker with a chisel nib on one end and a bullet nib on the other. Available in 189 colours. The chisel end is ideal for blocking in areas of flat colour, filling shapes, and laying base washes. The bullet end is for detail work, fine lines, and precise edges. These are the markers used in most graphic design, illustration, and fashion drawing courses.
ProMarker Brush — the same alcohol-based ink as the standard ProMarker but with a flexible brush nib on one end and a fine liner nib on the other. The brush tip responds to pressure in the same way a watercolour brush does — light pressure gives a thin stroke, heavy pressure gives a broader mark. Ideal for illustration, lettering, character design, and work where you want more expressive, fluid line quality rather than the clean flat edges of the chisel tip.
ProMarker Watercolour — water-based rather than alcohol-based, with a brush tip and a fine tip. These blend differently from the standard markers — you can reactivate them with a water brush to create soft, wash-like gradients. Compatible with watercolour paper, they're the choice for illustrators who want the convenience of a marker with the look of traditional watercolour. Available in a smaller range of colours than the standard ProMarker.
ProMarker Metallic — a specialist range with a metallic sheen including gold, silver, rose gold, and copper tones. Used for accents, gift illustration, card making, and any work that needs a reflective finish. Not suitable for blending with other ProMarker types.
Which set should you buy first?
For graphic design students: Start with the Primary and Secondary set (12 colours) to get a working palette across the colour wheel, then add the Greys set — greys are the most used markers in design work for shadows, tones, and architectural rendering. Add singles as your work develops.
For illustration and character work: The Skin Tones set is almost always the first purchase for illustrators — skin tones are the hardest colours to buy individually without seeing them together, and ProMarker's skin tones range is comprehensive. Follow with whatever colour families your work uses most.
For fashion design: Start with the Skin Tones set and add Neutrals and Warm Neutrals. Fashion illustration relies heavily on skin, fabric, and muted tones rather than saturated primaries.
For architecture and technical drawing: Greys, Neutrals, and Earth Tones are the workhorses. Add a Pastels set for presentation work and elevation drawings.
Singles vs sets — the honest answer
Sets are better value per marker than singles and are the right starting point. But once you have a core range, buying singles is smarter than buying another set that duplicates colours you already have. At £2.34 per single, building your ProMarker collection gradually around the colours you actually reach for is a perfectly sensible approach, and it avoids the common mistake of owning 96 markers where you use 20 and ignore the rest.
Do ProMarkers work on all paper?
No — and this is the most common cause of disappointment for new users. Standard printer paper causes alcohol markers to feather, bleed through, and look uneven. ProMarkers work best on marker pads specifically designed for alcohol-based markers — our GraphicPro A3 Marker Pad has a coated surface that prevents bleed-through and keeps colours vibrant. Layout paper (50gsm) also works well for development sketches. Avoid standard cartridge paper or sketchbooks unless they specifically state marker compatibility.
Can ProMarkers be refilled?
ProMarker inks are not available as refills — when the ink runs out, the marker is replaced. This is different from Copic markers, which are refillable, but ProMarkers are significantly more accessible in price. At £2.34 per single versus £5–7 for a Copic single, the economics work differently.
Blending technique
ProMarkers blend best when you work quickly and keep the ink wet. Apply the lighter colour first, then the darker colour, then go back over the boundary with the lighter colour while the ink is still wet to soften the edge. Work in circular or overlapping strokes rather than single passes. A colourless blender marker (available separately) extends this window and helps create smooth gradients.
Shop the ProMarker range at graphicsdirect.co.uk — singles, sets, brush markers, and watercolour markers all in stock. Call us on 01423 359 730 if you need advice on which colours to start with.