Artis Opus Series S: Best Miniature Painting Brushes

For the best part of a decade, the answer to “what’s the best brush for painting miniatures?” was straightforward: Winsor & Newton Series 7. They were the consensus recommendation across forums, YouTube tutorials, and hobby store counters worldwide. That’s no longer the case. In 2026, the community has largely shifted to the Artis Opus Series S — and once you understand why, it’s hard to argue with the verdict.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Artis Opus Series S: what makes them different, who they’re for, how they compare to the competition, and whether the price is actually justified.

Artis Opus Series S Kolinsky sable brushes for miniature painting

What Are the Best Miniature Painting Brushes in 2026?

Looking for the full starter setup? Our beginner’s guide covers everything you need, and our Paints & Primers section pairs well with a brush upgrade.

The Artis Opus Series S has become the consensus #1 recommendation for miniature painting brushes in 2026, displacing Winsor & Newton Series 7 after nearly a decade at the top. That’s a significant shift — W&N Series 7 held that position through years of YouTube tutorials, Reddit threads, and hobby store recommendations. The fact that community consensus has moved is worth paying attention to.

What Is the Artis Opus Series S?

The Series S is a range of pure Kolinsky sable brushes, handcrafted in England, specifically designed for miniature painting. Artis Opus launched via Kickstarter in 2018, with backing from several well-known professional painters including Angel Giraldez, Andy Wardle, and Jen Haley. The brushes come in sizes 000 through 6, available individually or in sets of 4, 5, or the complete 9-brush collection.

The key design features that set them apart:

Triangular wooden handle — sits naturally between thumb and forefinger without rolling, which makes a real difference during long painting sessions
Large belly with needle-sharp tip — holds a generous paint reservoir while still coming to a fine point, which is the hardest combination to achieve in a brush
Premium Kolinsky sable hair — high spring and snap, meaning the brush returns to its tip shape after every stroke
Includes brush soap — every set comes with a care leaflet and brush soap, which is a signal that Artis Opus actually expects you to look after these properly

How Do They Compare to Winsor & Newton Series 7?

This is the comparison most people care about, so let’s be direct about it.

Tip Retention: Best Miniature Painting Brushes Hold Their Point

Both brushes use premium Kolinsky sable and both hold a good point. The Series S has a slight edge in consistency — the tip stays compact more reliably over long sessions, particularly when working with metallic paints which are notoriously hard on brush tips. W&N Series 7 quality has also been inconsistent in recent years, with community reports of variable batch quality. Artis Opus has maintained a more consistent standard.

Paint capacity

The Series S belly is noticeably fuller than the Series 7 at equivalent sizes. This means fewer trips back to the palette during long blending passes or glazing work — a small thing that adds up over a three-hour painting session.

Handle ergonomics

This is where Artis Opus clearly wins. The triangular handle is genuinely more comfortable than the round Series 7 handle for most painters. It’s one of those improvements that sounds minor until you’ve actually used it for a few hours.

Price

They’re in a similar bracket. Individual Series S brushes run $12–$22 depending on size. The 5-brush set (sizes 000–2, which covers everything most painters need) is around $65–$75 on Amazon. W&N Series 7 individual brushes run $10–$20. The Artis Opus set pricing works out slightly better value than buying Series 7 individually at the same sizes.

Availability

W&N Series 7 has a slight edge here — available from more retailers and easier to find in stock. Artis Opus is widely stocked but occasionally sells out of popular sizes.

What Sizes Do You Actually Need?

For D&D miniature painting, you don’t need the full nine-brush set. The sizes that cover 95% of all painting work are:

Size 1 — your main workhorse for basecoating and layering on larger areas
Size 0 — mid-range detail work, clothing, armour panels
Size 00 — faces, fine details, gems, eyes
Size 000 — very fine work, freehand, extreme detail (optional for most painters)

The 4-brush set (000, 00, 0, 1) covers all of the above and is the most popular starting point. The 5-brush set adds a size 2 which is useful for drybrushing and large basecoating areas.

Are the Artis Opus Series S Worth the Price?

The honest answer: yes, for serious painters. No, for complete beginners.

If you’ve been painting for less than six months, a cheaper brush set will serve you fine while you’re learning brush control, paint consistency, and technique. Spending $70 on brushes before you know how to thin your paints is putting the cart before the horse.

If you’ve got a few dozen minis under your belt and you’re starting to notice that your brushes are limiting what you can do — losing their tip mid-session, holding too little paint, tiring your hand during long sessions — the Series S is a meaningful upgrade. Most painters who make the switch report that it’s the biggest quality-of-life improvement they’ve made to their setup.

The durability case is also worth making. A well-maintained Series S brush should last 12–24 months of regular use. Cheaper brushes typically need replacing every 2–3 months. At that rate, the economics start to look very different.

Where to Buy Artis Opus Series S Brushes

Artis Opus sell direct from their own store with the full range, all sizes, and bundle options. Buying direct also means you’re getting stock straight from the source rather than a third-party seller.

The official store also carries bundle deals and the full range including the complete 9-brush set not always found elsewhere.

Winsor & Newton Series 7 — The Former Standard

If you already own Winsor & Newton Series 7 brushes and they’re working well for you, there’s no urgent reason to switch. The Series 7 is still an excellent brush — it held the #1 spot for nearly a decade for good reason. Pure Kolinsky sable, handmade in England, with a wider belly and long tapered point that generations of miniature painters have relied on.

The case for staying with Series 7: wider availability, easier to find in stock at local hobby stores, and if your current brushes are performing well the upgrade to Artis Opus is a nice-to-have rather than a need-to-have. The case against: batch quality has been variable in recent years, the round handle is less comfortable for long sessions, and the Artis Opus Series S simply outperforms it on most measures at a similar price.

Individual Series 7 brushes run $10–$20 depending on size. For most painters the size 1 and size 0 cover the majority of work.

What About Budget Alternatives?

If the Series S price point isn’t right for you yet, two alternatives worth considering:

Rosemary & Co Series 33 — often described as the best value Kolinsky sable brushes available, and there’s community speculation that Artis Opus brushes are actually manufactured by Rosemary & Co. Whether or not that’s true, the Series 33 is an excellent brush at a lower price point. Browse Rosemary & Co brushes (official site) →

Army Painter Wargamer brush range — not in the same quality tier, but a solid starter option that won’t hold back a beginner. Available widely and affordable. Browse Army Painter brushes on Amazon →

The Bottom Line on the Best Miniature Painting Brushes

The Artis Opus Series S is the best miniature painting brushes available in 2026 for painters who are serious about their hobby. The community consensus shift away from Winsor & Newton Series 7 didn’t happen because of marketing — it happened because painters tried them and didn’t go back. The tip retention, paint capacity, and ergonomic handle make a genuine difference that shows up in the quality of your work.

Start with the 4-brush set (000–1). Add a size 2 if you want a drybrush-capable option in the same range. Look after them with brush soap and they’ll last you the better part of two years.

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Artis Opus Series S Review: The Best Miniature Painting Brushes in 2026