Derwent has been making and creating artists pencils for over 180 years and using this knowledge and expertise to bring you a range of water-soluable colour pencils chosen for their quality and performance. Made with natural wood barrels and quality water-soluable pigments, these pencils can be used dry as a colour pencil or brush on a little water to create a watercolour painting. They blend and dissolve easily to create a wide range of additional shades. Derwent Academy pencils are also easy to sharpen and are break resistant.