Bideford Black
Abbotsham Cliffs, Bideford
Did you know Bideford was the site of the last witch trials in England in 1682. Three women were accused, and executed.
That aside Biddyblack was first mined in the 13th century and was a by-product of the coal mining industry
south-west coast path Westward Ho
The colour was mined due to its pigment rich shale. This pigment was used for colouring rubber products, camoflage paint on tanks during WW2, and as a paint for the hulls of ships. It was even used in the cosmetic industry as mascara-and I can attest to its high pigmentation and its fineness- I got it all over me when collecting. The mines shut down in 1968 due to cheaper synthetic colour being produced and depletion of the resource.
Big pebbles on the beach at Abbotsham cliffs
It has a very strong deep inkiness and mixes very well and easily with Gum Arabic binder . When levigating (cleaning) it has very little dross and grinds down easily to a smooth velvet paste.
When swatched and mixed with various amounts of white and yellow there is a big range of variation
Bideford Black, gold and dove grey being filtered
swatches
Beautiful thick coverage with Biddyblack-makes a wonderful green when mixed with Bourtan Lane yellow or Italian Earth
