I’ve never quite been convinced by brush soap, even as I use it. Other soaps might work as well, and there’s always washing up liquid. Still, the pot I have is good for working colour out from the base of the brush. Then today I came into the studio for the first time in weeks, and found I’d left several brushes in to soak. The layer of sediment at the bottom of the pot had solidified around them, and the edges of the brushes were all nicely hardened.

Well, let’s hear it for ‘The Masters’ brand brush soap. I have some lovely, supple brushes once again, and it was astoundingly easy to clean them.