Established in 1793, the Rowney company was founded when Richard and Thomas Rowney selling perfume and wig powder, but when wigs fell out of fashion, turned their attentions to artists' colours. They achieved early sucess, supplying Constable and Turner with their paints. Whilst the Rowney company continued to focus on producing artists colours, the Daler Board Company started in 1946, initially as a sign writing business, but then moving onto selling their own textured board for oil painting and everntually a whole array of artist materials including pads, canvas and brushes.