Brushes, palettes, masking fluid, pens and pencils – an artist's toolkit can be surprisingly varied.

I use quite a wide selection of brushes, in different sizes, from different makers and with different types of bristles. I've also found that price isn't necessarily a good indication of how much I'll like a particular brush. Different brushes suit different artists, and finding the ones that work for you can be quite a personal thing. I'm sure my own preferences will continue to change over time.

At the moment, I particularly like Da Vinci and Winsor & Newton brushes, as well as brushes from the Princeton Neptune range. One of my favourites is this Faber-Castell size 12 round brush, which I use in pretty much every smaller painting. It's relatively inexpensive, but I find it incredibly versatile.  

For larger paintings, I mostly use Pro-Arte Ron Ranson Hake brushes. They hold plenty of water and paint and are particularly useful when I want to make broader, more expressive brushstrokes.  There is a little bit of hair shedding with you first start using them but that quickly passes.  Another one I love using is the Da Vinci Casaneo oval size 16 brush. Its size and shape are lovely for both broad and narrow strokes alike.

I use a lot of round brushes because I like the way they hold both water and pigment. I also enjoy using mop brushes for larger washes and those bigger bursts of colour. For finer details, I have a selection of small, fine-point brushes, and I sometimes use my Tachikawa Comic ink and dip pen for highlights and very fine lines.

Looking after my brushes is just as important as choosing the right ones. After each painting session, I clean them with warm water and 'The Masters' Brush Cleaner & Preserver. Brushes can be expensive, and I rely on them for every painting, so it makes sense to look after them and keep them in good condition.