Winsor & Newton Cotman Mini Plus Paint Set

The Cotman Mini PLUS set is ideal for beginner watercolourists and experienced painters alike. It contains 8 assorted water colour small cakes of paints which are called half pans. I also contains a pocket brush of a good size (no5) and the paints are easily refilled once a colour has been used up by purchasing another half pan and slotting it in the space of the previous one. In my experience it takes an awful long time to use up the Cotman paints, they have a good pigment colour and strength and not much is needed when painting as when mixed with water, the paints give great tones.
The set of paints is small enough to fit in your pocket and once opened the lid doubles up as a mixing tray which is useful if painting outdoors. In my opinion, this is a very practical set which enables the painter to travel light when painting Al Fresco or at an art class for example.
I find the Cotman range of paints excellent and of good value. The set and it's refills are available from Winsor & Newton's website and from Amazon as well as most Premier Art Shops (that means they stock the whole range of W&N art supplies).
This is an ideal first set for anyone seriously interested in painting with watercolours, it is best used on quality watercolour paper (I would suggest 300gsm/140lb).
Should you wish to add to the paintbox in the future or to complement a gift, I would suggest a large brush (size 12-16), masking fluid and some instructions like a book or dvd.