Brush making

Brushmaking in the UK dates back to medieval times when artisans created brushes using natural materials like animal hair and wooden handles. These early brushes were primarily used for domestic chores, painting, and personal grooming. By the 16th and 17th centuries, brushmaking had become more specialised. Tradesmen and artisans began crafting brushes for specific purposes, such as fine art, shoe polishing, and cleaning.

During the Industrial Revolution, brushmaking transitioned from a small-scale craft to an industry. Cities like London and Birmingham became hubs for brush manufacturing, with small workshops producing brushes for a wide range of applications.

In 1749, the Worshipful Company of Brushmakers was granted a Royal Charter, formalizing brushmaking as a respected trade. This guild helped regulate the quality of brushes and trained apprentices in the craft.

Throughout the 19th century, handmade brush production flourished, with craftsmen carefully selecting and preparing bristles from animals like boars, badgers, and horses. The wooden handles were often hand-carved and polished.

With the advent of mechanisation in the early 20th century, the demand for handmade brushes began to decline. Factories using automated processes could produce brushes more quickly and cheaply, leading to the decline of traditional brushmakers. Despite this shift, certain niche markets—such as fine art, gilding, and luxury grooming—continue to use and value handmade brushes.

The hair brush, as we know it now, was invented in the 18th century and In 1777, William Kent founded Kent Brushes in Hertfordshire, England, a company which became the first known hairbrush manufacturer. The company created its brushes from wood and bristle with each brush taking up to 12 individuals to craft. After more than nearly 250 years, Kent Brushes still holds the title as “the world’s oldest hairbrush manufacturer.”

Today, handmade brushes are sought after by professionals in fields like fine art, woodworking, and traditional shaving. There is also growing interest in sustainable, plastic-free alternatives, leading to a renewed appreciation for handmade brushes.

Handmade brush making is a traditional craft that involves carefully selecting and assembling materials such as natural bristles (from boar, horse, badger, or plant fibers) and wooden or bone handles. The process typically includes bristle selection, sorting, bundling, setting, and securing the bristles using glue, wire, or knots.

Brushes can be completely hand drawn or machine filled.

• Artist and specialist craft brush making
• Makeup brush making
• Shaving brush making
• Hair brushes
• Tooth brushes
• Bath bats
• Shoe brushes

• Market issues: The market is dependent on exchange rates to some extent but this is more to do with exporting products than importing materials.
• Market issues: the market for fine art and specialist brushes has shrunk in the past year
• Sourcing raw materials: Nearly all materials are becoming difficult to source. The sourcing of some natural products, i.e. natural hair can be particularly difficult. There are also additional pressures from the vegan movement and those that oppose the use of natural hair. Firms such as Crown Artists Brushes have projects in place to try and mitigate against this risk. Many manufacturers are now using synthetic alternatives.
• Market issues:  With some manufacturers, the core business is machine-made brushes and so the survival of the hand craft is dependent on the survival of the core business.
• Training issues: G B  Kent & Sons, the only firm manufacturing clothes, shoe and shaving brushes is currently training new staff. However, brush making is skilled and the training period is long. Manufacturers have to allow for people leaving the trade after being trained, which can be a significant risk.

• G B Kent & Sons– clothes, shoe and shaving brushes
• Winsor & Newton – artists’ brushes
• Crown Artist Brush Ltd– artists’ brushes
• A S Handover– Employee owned trust making artists’ brushes, makeup brushes and specialist brushes for signwrighting, pinstriping and gilding
• Rosemary & Co Artist’s Brushes– fine artists’ brushes
• Pro Arte – artists brushes
• Jonny Tapp, Tapp On Wood
• Lucinda Goulden – makeup brushes

This craft uses products derived from animals – please read our ethical sourcing statement.

Our thanks go to our 2025 reviewers:

• Kent Brushes
• Craig Morton, A.S. Handover Ltd

We consult with a wide range of practitioners and organisations to review and update the Red List. Some choose to remain anonymous but all feedback is taken into account.

If you would like to suggest any changes or additions to this page please contact us here