If you paint with watercolour or gouache and you're tired of brushes that lose their point after a week, the ROSA Studio Squirrel Hair Round Brush Set is built for exactly that frustration. Made with natural squirrel hair on a short wooden handle, these brushes are designed by ROSA Gallery — a professional Ukrainian art materials manufacturer trusted by artists since 1996 — to hold liquid color longer, snap back into a fine point, and let you move seamlessly between broad washes and razor-thin details. Why squirrel hair? Superior liquid absorption — squirrel hair holds significantly more water and pigment than synthetic fibres, so you reload less and paint longer washes in one stroke Soft, elastic, and shape-retentive — the hair keeps its bundle shape and forms a genuinely sharp tip, letting you pull long, controlled lines without splaying One brush, two techniques — the round shape gives you both fine detail lines and broad, pressure-controlled strokes from a single tool Short wooden handle — balanced for close, controlled studio work rather than long-handle easel painting Choose your set Set 1 (3 brushes) — No. 1, 4, 8 — a compact all-rounder trio for general watercolour work Set 8 (5 brushes) — No. 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 — the most complete range, from fine detail to broad wash Set 14 (3 brushes) — No. 0, 2, 4 — ideal for detail-focused work: botanical, portrait, illustration Set 15 (4 brushes) — No. 0, 3, 9, 12 — spans the widest gap, from tiny details to large wash areas Set 16 (2 brushes) — No. 2, 6 — a minimal starter duo for sketching and travel kits Built for real studio use The pointed tip of each brush keeps its shape stroke after stroke, which makes it easy to render rounded contours, decorative patterns, and small details without constantly reshaping the bristle. Combining several sizes in one set means you can move from thin outlining to filling larger shapes without switching between brush families — useful whether you're doing botanical studies, portraits, loose plein air washes, or gouache illustration. A thoughtful gift for any painter Presented together as a set, these brushes make a genuinely useful gift for anyone who paints — from a beginner ready to move up from starter-kit brushes, to a working professional who knows the difference natural hair makes. Unlike decorative art gifts, this is something they'll actually use at the easel every week. Pair it with a ROSA Gallery watercolour set for a complete gift bundle. Ukrainian craftsmanship ROSA Gallery has been producing professional-grade art materials in Ukraine since 1996, and its brushes, paints, and canvases are used by artists internationally. Choosing ROSA also means directly supporting Ukrainian manufacturing and jobs. Shipping & packaging Dispatched from the UK in protective packaging that keeps brush tips shaped during transit. Please check estimated delivery times at checkout for your postcode. What's the difference between the brush numbers?Lower numbers (0, 1, 2) are smaller, better suited to fine detail and small areas. Higher numbers (8, 9, 12) are larger, holding more paint for broad washes and big shapes. A set with a wider number range gives you more versatility. Is this suitable for gouache as well as watercolour?Yes. Squirrel hair's absorbency and point retention work equally well for gouache, ink, and wash techniques, not just traditional watercolour. How do I care for squirrel hair brushes?Rinse in cool water immediately after use, reshape the tip while wet, and store upright or flat with the tip untouched — never tip-down in a jar, as this bends the bristle over time. Which set should I choose as a beginner?Set 1 or Set 14 (3 brushes) cover most general watercolour needs. If you want maximum versatility from the start, Set 8 (5 brushes) spans the full range from detail to wash.
