UKCPS - News

This page has information on CP related matters - where to get materials, product changes, new developments in the CP world and so on. If there is anything you would like to add to this section, or change, please contact me

28/11/07 - The UKCPS now has a BLOG, and that will from now on be the preferred way of keeping everyone up to date with news about the Society. Other important news from the CP world may still be posted here - but perhaps not as often!

11/10/07 - The winners for the Derwent "Magic Memories" competition are announced and can be seen on the Derwent site - www.pencils.co.uk

20/08/07 - Press release from The Cumberland Pencil Company announces that their start date for the new factory in Lillyhall, Cumbria, is May 2008. The first and now the last pencil manufacturer in the UK will be moving to a brand new factory designed with several eco-friendly features, such as recycling sawdust to heat the premises. The General Manager, David Sharrock, comments: "The design of the new factory will bring major improvements in operating and energy efficiency, and an opportunity to innovate and improve our manufacturing techniques. We are already committed to ensuring that all our materials, processes, products and services have minimal environmental impact."

9/08/07 - Article by Bob Ebdon in Leisure Painter, including the chance to win a set of 72 Derwent Coloursoft pencils and one years free membership of the UKCPS. Bob's award winning picture "Red Onions" also features in September's "The Artist" magazine. Also watch out for some new books. One called "The Botanical Artist's Pallette" has sections on mixing coloured pencils, and one to be published 2008/9 by Ann Swan wil feature botanical art in coloured pencil.

11/07/07 - Article by Bob Ebdon in this month's Leisure Painter, and another to follow next month. Also, have a go at winning a Derwent Heritage Collection box, by entering their "Magic Memories" competition. You can get details and download an entry form from their site - www.pencils.co.uk

19/05/07 - News of an eight-page article "A Recipe For Eye Candy", two step-by-step demonstrations and a cover art ("Breaking Away") in the International Artist Magazine (June/July 2007, pp 62-69), by CPSA member Alyona Nickelsen, which mentions CPSA and UKCPS. Alyona has also been commissioned to write a book on CP for Watson-Guptill, to be published 2008.

18/05/07 - Several new developments from Derwent that I have been very remiss in not adding! Derwent have continued their innovative approach to pencils manufacture and development with Derwent Drawing pencils (very soft with gorgeous colours), the Derwent Coloursoft pencils mentioned below, Derwent Inktense pencils (ink-on-a-stick),and Derwent Graphitint (coloured water-soluble graphite) all being released in 2006 or earlier. Recent developments for 2007 include the launch of Derwent Drawing collections, with input from Suzy Herbert and Gary Theobald, Derwent Tinted Charcoal, and a very interesting launch of a Blender and Burnisher, with again input from Suzy Herbert and other UKCPS members. More details on all of these can be found on the newly re-vamped Derwent website - www.pencils.co.uk . The UKCPS is always delighted to help publicise any new developments in the CP world, and is pleased to be able to congratulate and thank Derwent for all of the great work they are doing - they seem to be the only pencil manufacturer coming out with truly original and innovative products.

06/12/06 - Thanks to a heads up from a student on one of my courses, I have found a source for individual Prismacolor pencils on the web and in this country - Paper People, Slade Farm, Morchard Bishp, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6SJ. They are very helpful, and sell individual Prismas, mail order, for £1.25 each, plus VAT

25/04/06 - New Pencils from Derwent! Launching on May 1st, in shops Mid-May, the new Derwent Coloursoft range, smooth, velvety pencils designed to give rich vibrant colour, according to Derwent. Many of our members have been involved in production and testing of these pencils, and Graham Brace and Bob Ebdon have sample pieces included in the brochure.

14/2/06 - Bob White has e-mailed me to point out that there are actually other distributors for Rising Stonehenge paper in the UK - a complete - short - list can be found here. More information about the range of Fox River (Rising) papers and boards can be found here

15/03/05 - More developments on pencil sharpeners, include a fairly cheap electric one, in our Tools section

28/02/05 - A brand new website based discussion group has just been launched that deals exclusively with matters pencil - coloured, water-soluble, graphite, mixed media. This is run by Gemma Gyling who also runs the wonderful "Scribble" site, and is called "Scribbletalk" - www.scribbletalk.com

25/2/05 - The biggest news to hit the CP world in quite a while broke around a month ago. You may have heard this, and like me, not believed it, but I can confirm that it is true. Karisma pencils are, as of Jan 1st 2005, no longer being made, sales having dropped by 30% last year. The situation is still in flux, but I have spoken to Sandford UK Sales Dept. and can confirm that, at the moment, the pencils that are in the shops are all there are. The brand name is up for sale, and it is possible that it may be sold, and that Karisma may rise again. Whether they will be the same is another matter. If, like me, you rely on these wonderful pencils, you have three choices - switch to another brand, import Prismacolor pencils from the USA, which are identical in colour but feel slightly different, or pray for a take-over. The good news is that many stores are offering end-of-line sales at the moment.

01/02/05 The news that Office World and Staples have amalgamated and re-organised some lines, resulting in the deletion of the Dahle 230 sharpener, is featured in our Tools section, along with some suggested alternatives