Pro Arte Brushes at Bomran: A British Brush-Making Success Story

Some brands feel like a natural fit for the hobby community, and Pro Arte is one of them. Pro Arte brushes at Bomran bring together more than five decades of British brush-making experience with the control, reliability and variety that miniature painters and scale modellers need.

We stock Pro Arte online and in our Corringham shop because the range offers useful choices for beginners, experienced painters and anyone who enjoys working on Warhammer miniatures, Gundam kits, scenery or other detailed models. It is also a pleasure to support a British manufacturer whose brushes are made in Yorkshire.

A British brush maker since 1973

Pro Arte was founded in 1973 by Roy Thompson, an artist who had previously worked for Winsor & Newton. His aim was to build a specialist brush company around quality, service and sensible pricing. That starting point developed into a manufacturer with its own distinctive approach to brush making.

The company later established its manufacturing operation at Park Mill in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Pro Arte explains that every brush is now made, checked and controlled at this historic mill, combining traditional hand skills with modern manufacturing methods.

The knowledge has also travelled through three generations of the Thompson family. Roy’s son Peter joined the business and helped develop its manufacturing expertise, including its work with synthetic fibres. Peter now runs the company with his son Johnny, who learned the production process from the ground up. You can read more about this history on Pro Arte’s official website.

Why Pro Arte brushes suit miniature painting

A miniature brush has a demanding job. It needs to place paint accurately, maintain a useful point and hold enough colour for controlled strokes. Different techniques then ask for different characteristics. Fine details benefit from precision, broader layers need dependable paint flow, and drybrushing requires a shape that can work repeatedly across raised texture.

Pro Arte’s background in artists’ brushes translates naturally to this kind of work. The company has spent decades developing natural and synthetic fibres, brush shapes and manufacturing methods for different painting media. Its dedicated miniature and model ranges apply that experience to small surfaces, detailed figures and scale projects.

This does not mean that one brush will suit every painter or every technique. The most useful choice depends on what you are painting, the paint you use and how the handle feels in your hand. Our guide to choosing Pro Arte brushes for miniature painting compares the practical options in more detail.

The Pro Arte range at Bomran

Bomran carries a growing selection of individual brushes, specialist shapes, coordinated sets and useful care products. Stock will naturally change as popular sizes are replenished, but the range is designed to cover the main jobs that miniature painters and model builders regularly encounter.

Detail and everyday painting brushes

Micro Detail, Tri-Grip and Prolon model brushes provide different routes into controlled painting. A fine point can help with faces, lenses, markings and edge highlights, while a slightly larger pointed brush is often more comfortable for general base colours and layering. Beginners should not feel that they need the smallest available size for every task. A reliable point and suitable paint capacity are usually more important.

Dry brushes

Drybrushing is useful for quickly picking out raised texture on fur, stone, armour, scenery and scenic bases. A purpose-made dry brush lets you work across these surfaces without putting the same strain on your best pointed brush. Keep it separate from brushes used for smooth layers and fine details.

Brush sets

A set is a convenient choice when you want several complementary sizes together. It can provide a straightforward starting point for a new painter or help an established hobbyist add a particular group of shapes. Individual brushes remain useful when you already know the exact size or style you need to replace.

Brush care

Brush soap and suitable storage help protect the point and remove paint left in the bristles after a session. Good care will not make a brush last forever, especially when it is used for demanding techniques, but it can prevent avoidable damage. Browse our brush care and accessories section for cleaning and storage options.

Explore Pro Arte brushes and accessories

The selection below updates with the Pro Arte category, so it can continue to show useful brushes, sets and care products as stock is replenished and the range develops.

Choosing a brush for your next project

Start with the kind of painting you expect to do most often. A dependable pointed brush is a versatile first choice for miniature painting because it can cover general work while still reaching smaller areas. Add a fine detail brush when you genuinely need greater precision, and use a dedicated dry brush for rough textures.

Think about comfort as well as size. Triangular or shaped grips may suit painters who want a different feel in the hand, while a familiar round handle may be preferable for others. There is no single correct answer, and it is perfectly normal to develop favourites as you gain experience.

If you are assembling your first complete setup, our beginner’s guide to painting miniatures explains primer, paint, brushes and the basic stages. You can also read our guide to the seven most useful miniature painting tools for practical help prioritising your purchases.

How to look after a Pro Arte brush

• Rinse acrylic paint from the brush regularly while you work.
• Avoid allowing paint to dry where the bristles meet the ferrule.
• Use an appropriate brush soap when a deeper clean is required.
• Reshape the bristles gently after cleaning.
• Never leave the brush standing on its point in a water pot.
• Store it where the bristles cannot be bent or crushed.

It also helps to keep older brushes for glue, texture products and other rough jobs. This protects the point of the brushes you rely on for controlled painting.

Why Bomran chose Pro Arte

We enjoy finding hobby products that combine practical performance with a story worth sharing. Pro Arte offers both. Its brushes are made in England by a company that has continued to develop its craft for more than 50 years, while the miniature and model ranges give painters useful choices at accessible prices.

There is something especially satisfying about pairing British brush-making experience with the creativity found in modern miniature painting. Whether you are painting your first gaming model, a complete Warhammer army, a Gundam kit or an elaborate piece of scenery, the brush is the connection between your hand and the surface. Choosing one that feels dependable makes the process more enjoyable.

You can explore Pro Arte at Bomran online or visit us in Corringham, Essex. Products that are temporarily unavailable can still be useful when planning your painting setup, as we regularly replenish this core range.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Pro Arte?

Artist Roy Thompson founded Pro Arte in 1973 after working for Winsor & Newton. The business later developed its own manufacturing operation and now spans three generations of the Thompson family.

Where are Pro Arte brushes made?

Pro Arte says its brushes are made at Park Mill in Skipton, North Yorkshire. The company combines traditional brush-making skills with modern production techniques.

Are Pro Arte brushes suitable for Warhammer miniatures?

Yes. Pro Arte produces brushes and sets intended for miniature and model painting. The right choice will depend on whether you are applying general colours, painting fine details or drybrushing texture.

Does Bomran stock Pro Arte brushes online?

Yes. You can shop the Pro Arte range through the Bomran website or visit our shop in Corringham, Essex.

Which Pro Arte brush should a beginner choose?

A versatile pointed brush or a coordinated miniature brush set is a practical starting choice. Add specialist detail and dry brushes when a project calls for them.