Fabriano Art Paper Deals — Sales, Discounts & Price Comparison UK

The Complete Guide to Fabriano Art Papers — Plus How to Find the Best UK Deals and Discounts

If you want to understand what genuinely old paper making heritage looks like — not the kind that's measured in decades but the kind measured in centuries — Fabriano is the example. The Italian manufacturer has been producing paper in the Marche region since 1264. That's not a marketing claim dressed up with a heritage story. That's 760 years of continuous paper production from the same town, through wars, plagues, industrial revolutions, and two world wars, emerging with a reputation that remains one of the strongest in the fine art paper market. Here's everything you need to know about the brand and how to find it at the best UK price.

760 Years of Italian Paper Making

The town of Fabriano sits in the Apennine mountains of the Marche region in central Italy, in a valley fed by the river Giano whose pure, cold waters proved ideal for paper production. Paper making had arrived in Europe from China via the Arab world, and by the thirteenth century Fabriano had become the most important paper making centre on the continent — producing paper that was exported across Europe and used by the Vatican, the Papal States, and the banking houses of Florence and Venice.

What made Fabriano's paper exceptional wasn't just the quality of the water — it was the innovations the craftsmen developed. The watermark — those translucent designs visible when paper is held to the light — was invented in Fabriano in the late thirteenth century. Animal gelatin sizing, which gives paper its resistance to water and ink absorption, was developed in Fabriano in the fourteenth century. Wire moulds, which allowed the production of more consistent, higher quality sheets, were a Fabriano innovation. Each of these developments transformed paper making across Europe and remained the foundation of fine art paper production for centuries.

Michelangelo drew on Fabriano paper. Raphael used it. The manuscripts and documents that define European civilisation from the medieval period through the Renaissance were produced on paper made in or influenced by Fabriano's methods. That's not incidental heritage — it's a manufacturing tradition with an unbroken line from the thirteenth century to the paper you can buy today.

Today Fabriano is part of the Fedrigoni Group — one of Italy's leading speciality paper manufacturers — but production continues in the town of Fabriano under the same name and with the same commitment to quality that has defined the brand for seven and a half centuries. I've watched Fabriano paper sell consistently throughout my years in the industry — first at ARTdiscount and now tracking it at Discount Art Supplies alongside our community of 36,000 UK artists. The loyalty is genuine and earned.

The Fabriano Range — What's Available for UK Buyers

Fabriano produces a broader range of papers than most UK buyers are aware of. Here's a breakdown of the main product lines:

Fabriano Artistico Watercolour Paper

The flagship product and the one most professional watercolour artists associate with the brand. Fabriano Artistico is a 100% cotton watercolour paper produced using traditional cylinder mould techniques with natural gelatin sizing — the same approach Fabriano pioneered in the fourteenth century. Available in three surface textures — Hot Pressed, NOT (Cold Pressed), and Rough — and in weights from 200gsm up to 640gsm.

The Artistico range is widely regarded as one of the finest professional watercolour papers available anywhere, competing directly with Arches and Saunders Waterford at the top of the market. The surface sizing gives Artistico excellent wet strength, outstanding lifting capability, and the ability to withstand multiple washes and reworking without the surface breaking down. For professional watercolour painters whose work goes to collectors or galleries, Artistico is one of the two or three papers that serious consideration begins with.

Available in individual sheets, pads, blocks, and rolls. The Artistico Extra White — a brighter white than the traditional version — has become particularly popular with artists who want maximum luminosity in their watercolour work.

Fabriano 5 Stelle (Five Stars)

The other historic Fabriano range — 5 Stelle, meaning five stars, is a traditional laid paper made from 100% cotton using the original Fabriano wire mould method that dates back to the medieval period. A warm white, textured paper with beautiful tooth and a distinctive laid line pattern visible when held to the light. Used for drawing, printmaking, calligraphy, and mixed media work where the character of the paper surface is part of the artistic statement.

For artists interested in traditional drawing techniques — charcoal, sanguine, Conté — on a paper with genuine historical resonance, 5 Stelle is worth seeking out. It's not as widely stocked in the UK as the Artistico watercolour range but is available through specialist retailers.

Fabriano Accademia Drawing Paper

The everyday studio drawing range — a light cream, mould-made paper available in sheets and pads at a price point that makes regular studio use practical. Available in 120gsm and 200gsm, Accademia pads are the most widely stocked Fabriano product in UK art shops and represent an excellent mid-range drawing paper for pencil, charcoal, pen, and light wash work.

The 200gsm Accademia is particularly popular as a mixed media sketching paper — heavy enough to take light watercolour washes without excessive buckling, with a surface that handles dry media well. For artists who go through paper in volume during daily sketchbook practice, Accademia is one of the better value options available from a brand with Fabriano's quality credentials.

Fabriano Studio Watercolour Pads

The more accessible entry point into Fabriano's watercolour range — a cellulose and cotton blend paper at a price point between the professional Artistico and generic student watercolour pads. Available in spiral and glued block formats in standard sizes from A5 to A2. For developing watercolour artists who want to work on a better surface than generic student paper without committing to professional Artistico prices for every practice piece, the Studio range is the sensible middle ground.

Fabriano Sketchbooks

A range of hardback and softback sketchbooks covering various paper weights and surface finishes for drawing, sketching, and mixed media use. The Fabriano sketchbook range has become increasingly popular with urban sketchers and illustrators who want the quality of Italian paper making in a portable format. The black cover hardback sketchbooks in particular have a following in the sketching community for their combination of quality paper and durable covers.

Fabriano Tiziano Pastel Paper

One of the benchmark pastel papers in the European market — Fabriano Tiziano is a laid paper with a distinctive surface texture that grips pastel pigment effectively across a range of colours. Available in 40 colours including warm neutrals, cool greys, earth tones, and stronger hues, Tiziano is the primary European competitor to Canson Mi-Teintes in the pastel paper market. The two papers have subtly different surface characters — Tiziano's laid texture is more pronounced and produces a slightly different mark — and many pastelists have a strong preference for one over the other based on their working style.

Fabriano Rosaspina Printmaking Paper

A traditional printmaking paper produced from a combination of cotton and cellulose, designed for intaglio, lithography, and relief printing. Rosaspina has excellent damp strength for printmaking processes that require dampening before printing, and produces clean, consistent results across print runs. Popular with printmakers in the UK for its combination of Italian heritage and reliable performance.

How to Get the Best Fabriano Deals and Discounts in the UK

Fabriano is stocked by most major UK art retailers, though the full range is more consistently available through specialist suppliers than general craft retailers. Prices vary between stockists and comparison shopping is worthwhile — particularly on the Artistico range where individual sheet and block prices can differ meaningfully.

Use a price comparison tool first — this page aggregates live pricing from UK stockists so the best current Fabriano deal is immediately visible without opening multiple tabs.

Compare Artistico formats carefully — Fabriano Artistico is available in sheets, pads, blocks, and rolls at different per-sheet costs. Blocks cost more than pads but eliminate the need to stretch paper, which has a practical value. Sheets bought individually or in packs often work out cheaper per sheet than pads for the same weight and size. Always compare the per-sheet cost rather than the headline price before buying.

Buy Accademia in larger formats — the Accademia drawing paper range in larger sheet counts or A2 format works out significantly cheaper per sheet than A4 pads. For artists who use Accademia for regular studio practice, buying in larger formats during sale events is the most economical approach.

Watch for sale events — Fabriano Artistico in particular appears in seasonal sale promotions at UK art retailers. Given the premium price of professional watercolour paper, any meaningful discount is worth taking advantage of if you use the range regularly.

Check discount codes before checkout — we list verified active codes for UK art retailers on this site. General retailer codes apply to the full Fabriano range.

Fabriano vs Arches — The Honest Comparison

The question every serious watercolour painter eventually asks. Both are professional 100% cotton watercolour papers with excellent reputations. The honest differences:

Arches is French-made, traditionally harder-sized, with exceptional lifting capability and a slightly more uniform surface consistency. Fabriano Artistico is Italian-made, with a slightly softer feel to the surface and a warmth to the paper character that many painters prefer for certain styles of work.

Both are benchmark papers. Most professional painters who have used both develop a preference for one based on their technique and the qualities they value most. Fabriano Artistico's lifting capability is slightly less aggressive than Arches — which some painters find an advantage for work where they want initial washes to stay put. Arches' harder sizing gives more control over how paint behaves on the surface. Try both before committing to either as your primary paper.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fabriano

When was Fabriano paper first produced? Paper production in Fabriano dates to 1264 — making it one of the oldest paper manufacturing traditions in the world. The town gave its name to the paper it produced, and Fabriano paper was exported across Europe from the medieval period onwards.

What did Fabriano invent? Fabriano craftsmen are credited with inventing the watermark in the late thirteenth century, developing animal gelatin sizing in the fourteenth century, and pioneering the use of wire moulds for more consistent sheet production. All three innovations transformed European paper making and remain fundamental to fine art paper production today.

Is Fabriano Artistico acid free? Yes — Fabriano Artistico is 100% cotton, acid-free, and archival. It is produced without optical brightening agents in the traditional version, though the Extra White version uses brighteners to achieve a whiter base.

What is the difference between Fabriano Artistico and Fabriano Studio? Artistico is a 100% cotton professional watercolour paper with full gelatin sizing — suitable for demanding professional techniques and finished work. Studio is a cotton and cellulose blend at a lower price point, suitable for developing artists and practice work.

Where can I buy Fabriano paper in the UK? Fabriano is stocked by Cass Art, Jacksons Art Supplies, Amazon UK, and specialist art retailers. Use the comparison tool on this page to find the best current UK deal before you buy.