Winsor & Newton Galeria Set — Synthetic Specialty

2026-04-14T09:25:11+01:00

Vendor: Winsor & Newton
Type: Brush
Price: 25.59

About the Galeria Acrylic Brush Set

Five shapes, one set, and you're ready to paint. Winsor & Newton's Galeria range is designed specifically for acrylic painters — high-quality synthetic filaments that handle heavy-body colour without losing their spring, and clean up easily between sessions. This long-handle set gives you the five shapes you'll actually reach for at the easel.

The Galeria line sits in the sweet spot between student-grade throwaway brushes and premium specialist ranges. The synthetic filaments are springy and responsive with good shape recovery — they're made to hold up under repeated acrylic use without going soft or losing their profile. Lacquered wooden handles add durability and a comfortable grip for longer painting sessions.

This is a practical set. It's a solid starting point for anyone moving into acrylic easel painting, and an equally good refresh kit if your current brushes have seen better days. Not every painter needs a £30 brush — sometimes you need five reliable shapes that just work.

Best For

Medium

Acrylic — the primary design target. The synthetic filaments handle heavy-body acrylics well, with controlled release and good spring. They won't go limp under thick paint the way softer brushes can.

Mixed media — versatile enough for collage work, mixed media layering, and any technique where acrylics form the base.

Technique & Use Case

General painting — five shapes cover outlining, blocking in, blending, texture, and feathering

Easel painting — long handles give you reach and perspective at arm's length

Studio & classroom — durable, easy to clean, and priced for regular use without guilt

Glazing & blending — the Filbert and Fan in particular excel at smooth transitions and layered glazes

What This Set Is Not Ideal For

🔸 Ultra-fine miniature detail — all sizes in this set are mid-range (size 8 / size 5). If you need tiny brushes for miniature painting, you'll want dedicated detail brushes in sizes 0–2.

🔸 Watercolour — these are acrylic brushes. Watercolour benefits from softer, more absorbent natural hair or specialist synthetic brushes with better water-holding capacity.

🔸 Natural bristle character — if you want the scratchy, textured feel of hog bristle, these smooth synthetics won't give you that. Look at natural bristle ranges instead.

🔸 Close-up desk work — long handles are designed for easel distance. If you paint at a desk or close up, short-handle brushes are more comfortable.

What's in the Set

5 × Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic brushes, all on long lacquered wooden handles:

Brush | Shape & Size | Best For
1 | Round 8 | Lines, detail, outlining, lettering — the most versatile single shape
2 | Flat 8 | Bold strokes, washes, blocking in, crisp edges — great for covering ground
3 | Filbert 8 | Soft blending, smooth transitions, figurative work — no harsh lines
4 | Bright 8 | Short controlled strokes, thick paint, heavy texture — more pressure than a flat
5 | Fan 5 | Blending, feathering, foliage, soft gradient effects — whisper-thin strokes

Care & Maintenance

Synthetic brushes are low-maintenance compared with natural hair, but clean brushes last longer and perform better. The single most important habit with acrylics: don't let paint dry in the brush.

Cleaning

During painting: Rinse in water between colours and don't leave brushes sitting in the water pot for extended periods — this bends the fibres and loosens the ferrule over time.

After painting: Wash thoroughly with mild soap or a dedicated brush cleaner. Reshape the tip with your fingers and lay flat or stand upright to dry. We recommend The Masters Brush Cleaner & Preserver — we stock it and it works well with both synthetic and natural hair brushes.

Storage

Once dry, store upright in a pot or flat in a brush roll. Never store with the bristles compressed or bent — it permanently deforms the synthetic fibres.

What Not to Do

🚫 Don't let acrylic paint dry in the ferrule — once cured it's nearly impossible to remove and will ruin the brush's shape

🚫 Don't leave brushes soaking in water for hours — it swells the handle and loosens the ferrule

🚫 Don't store with fibres bent or compressed — synthetic filaments hold their shape well, but only if you let them