Raphaël Travel Brush "Le Voyageur" – SoftAqua & Precision Series
✈️ Raphaël Le Voyageur Travel Brush Range
Professional watercolour brushes designed for artists on the move
Built for Travel, Made for Quality
Le Voyageur is Raphaël's answer to a simple problem: how do you protect your brushes when you're painting outdoors, travelling, or working away from the studio? Each brush comes with a metal protective cap that doubles as a handle extension when you're working.
🛡️ How it works: The cap slides over the bristles during transport, protecting them from damage. When you're ready to paint, flip it around and slot it onto the handle end — this gives you a full-length brush with perfect balance.
The range combines two different synthetic fibre technologies depending on what you need:
- SoftAqua fibres — soft, water-hungry bristles that mimic natural squirrel hair (for washes and loose work)
- Precision fibres — springy, sharp-tipped bristles that snap back to point (for details and line work)
All models are compact enough to fit in a pencil case or travel pouch, but perform like full-sized professional brushes.
🎨 The Four Brushes
Round Size 6
Fibre type: Synthetic SoftAqua
Hair length: ~12mm
Diameter: ~2.7mm
Your go-to workhorse for medium washes, backgrounds, and general painting. The rounded shape holds plenty of water while maintaining a decent point for controlled strokes.
Best for: Skies, landscapes, loose portrait work, filling medium areas
Mop Size 000
Fibre type: Synthetic SoftAqua
Hair length: ~20mm
Diameter: ~0.8mm
Despite the tiny size number, this is a mop-shaped brush with a full belly — perfect for laying down quick, juicy washes in small areas or creating soft edges.
Best for: Spot washes, wet-in-wet effects, small backgrounds, atmospheric details
Round Size 0
Fibre type: Synthetic Precision
Hair length: ~7mm
Diameter: ~1.0mm
Ultra-fine detailing brush with a sharp, stable point. The precision fibres have excellent snap — they spring back to shape after every stroke, even with repeated use.
Best for: Fine lines, signatures, botanical details, miniature work, corrections
Round Size 5
Fibre type: Synthetic Precision
Hair length: ~10mm
Diameter: ~2.0mm
Bigger than Size 0 but still focused on control and precision. Great for outlines, contours, and detailed work that needs consistent line weight.
Best for: Outlines, comic/illustration work, portrait features, architectural details
⚙️ Understanding the sizes:
The Mop Size 000 might sound tiny, but mop brushes are measured differently — it's actually larger than a Round Size 0. Think of it as a small wash brush rather than a detail brush. The belly holds water while the tip stays controllable.
📏 Technical Specifications
| Model | Shape | Fibre Type | Hair Length | Diameter | Total Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoftAqua Round 6 | Round | SoftAqua synthetic | ~12mm | ~2.7mm | 16-17cm (with cap) |
| SoftAqua Mop 000 | Mop/Quill | SoftAqua synthetic | ~20mm | ~0.8mm | 16-17cm (with cap) |
| Precision Round 0 | Round | Precision synthetic | ~7mm | ~1.0mm | 16-17cm (with cap) |
| Precision Round 5 | Round | Precision synthetic | ~10mm | ~2.0mm | 16-17cm (with cap) |
All brushes feature a solid metal handle and cap system. The cap is precisely machined to fit snugly without damaging the bristles.
🎒 Where You'd Actually Use These
🏞️ Plein Air Painting
Throw them in your bag without worrying about crushed bristles. The protective caps mean you can toss them in with your sketchbook, water bottle, and paints without a second thought.
🏙️ Urban Sketching
Compact size is perfect for cafe sketching or standing at an easel in a busy street. Quick to set up, easy to clean on the go, and you can work fast with the round brushes.
✈️ Travel Journaling
TSA-friendly, lightweight, and they fit in any pencil case. Paint in hotel rooms, airports, trains — anywhere you've got 10 minutes and a view worth capturing.
🎓 Workshops & Classes
Easy to transport to and from classes. The caps protect the brushes in a crowded bag or when you're carrying multiple tools. No more bent bristles after a day at the studio.
🏕️ Camping & Hiking
Minimal gear, maximum capability. Pack the essentials (one wash brush, one detail brush) and you've got everything you need for watercolour studies in the field.
🚂 Commute Painting
If you sketch on trains or buses, these brushes won't take up much room and they're safe from being crushed in your commuter bag. Quick setups mean you can make the most of travel time.
🎨 What Media Work Best
✅ Watercolour
Perfect. Both SoftAqua and Precision fibres are designed primarily for watercolour work — they hold water well and release pigment smoothly.
✅ Gouache
Works great. The SoftAqua brushes handle the thicker consistency well, and Precision brushes give you clean edges and fine details.
✅ Ink & Indian Ink
Excellent control. The Precision brushes especially shine here — sharp lines, consistent flow, and they clean up easily.
✅ Diluted Acrylics
Yes, if thinned properly. Use them like watercolour acrylics or for glazing. Don't use with thick acrylic straight from the tube.
⚠️ Heavy-Bodied Acrylics
Not recommended. These fibres are too soft for thick paint — you'd be better off with stiffer synthetics designed for acrylics.
❌ Oils
No. The brushes aren't designed for oil-based media and the solvents used to clean oils could damage the fibres or loosen the ferrule.
🧼 Care & Maintenance
Travel brushes need a bit more attention than studio brushes because they spend more time packed away. Here's how to keep them in good shape:
After Painting
- Rinse immediately in lukewarm water. Don't let paint dry in the bristles — it's harder to clean later and can damage the fibres.
- Use mild soap if needed. Marseille soap or gentle brush soap works well. Avoid harsh detergents or hot water.
- Drain excess water and blot gently with a cloth. Don't squeeze or twist the bristles.
- Let them dry completely before putting the cap back on. This is critical — trapped moisture can ruin synthetic fibres or cause mildew.
- Store bristles-down or flat while drying. Propping them against a towel works fine.
🚫 Critical don'ts:
- Never cap wet brushes — moisture trapped inside will damage the fibres
- Don't leave brushes standing in water — it bends bristles and loosens the ferrule
- Avoid submerging the metal ferrule in solvents or hot water
- Don't force the cap on — if it's tight, the brush may still be damp
On the Road
If you're painting somewhere without easy access to running water:
- Carry a small water bottle for rinsing brushes in the field
- Bring a cloth or paper towel to dry brushes before capping
- If you must pack wet brushes, remove the cap and wrap bristles in paper — cap them properly once they've dried
- Clean them thoroughly as soon as you're back somewhere with facilities
❓ Questions People Actually Ask
Do the caps stay on securely during transport?
Yes. The metal caps fit snugly and won't fall off in your bag. They're precision-made to protect the bristles without being so tight that they're difficult to remove. You'll get a satisfying click when they seat properly.
Can I use these as my main studio brushes?
Absolutely. "Travel brush" just means they're designed to be portable — the quality and performance are identical to regular professional brushes. Many artists use these exclusively because they like the compact size and protective caps.
Which brushes should I get if I'm only buying one or two?
For maximum versatility: SoftAqua Round Size 6 plus Precision Round Size 0. This gives you a general-purpose wash brush and a fine detail brush — covers about 80% of watercolour work. Add the Mop 000 if you want more wash capability.
Are synthetic fibres as good as natural hair for travel?
For travel, synthetics are actually better. Natural hair is more delicate and can be damaged by rough handling or environmental changes (humidity, heat). Synthetic SoftAqua gives you similar water capacity with much better durability — ideal when you're not in a controlled studio environment.
How do I know when the brush is dry enough to cap?
Touch the ferrule (metal part) — if it's cool or damp, wait longer. The bristles should feel dry to the touch and spring back to shape. When in doubt, wait an extra 10 minutes. Better safe than sorry, because moisture damage is irreversible.
Will airport security have issues with the metal caps?
No. They're just brush caps, not sharp or restricted items. Pack them in your hand luggage along with your paints and you'll be fine. The caps actually make them easier to pack safely in carry-on bags.
Do the bristles get damaged from being capped during transport?
Not if they're dry and the cap fits properly. The design protects the shape of the bristles without compressing them. Raphaël designed these specifically for repeated capping and uncapping — they'll handle years of regular travel.
📦 Buying from Hobby Heaven
We're an authorised Raphaël stockist in the UK, which means you're getting genuine products with full manufacturer backing — no grey imports or questionable sourcing.
Same-Day Dispatch
Order on a working day and we'll send it via Royal Mail 24 the same day
30-Day Returns
Changed your mind? Full refund within 30 days, no hidden fees or restocking charges
Our brands
