Portable watercolor kits have become increasingly popular with artists who enjoy urban sketching, travel journaling, and painting outdoors. But fitting everything into one compact case often means making compromises—whether that's on paper quality, brushes, paint performance, or portability.
To find out how practical an all-in-one kit can really be, Becky Tregear Art recently spent time testing the Lightwish Travel Watercolor Set. Rather than simply unboxing it, Becky painted both indoors and outdoors, explored every accessory, and shared honest feedback on what worked well—and what could be improved.
If you're considering a compact watercolor kit for travel or everyday sketching, here's what Becky discovered.
Quick Verdict
What Becky Loved
- Compact all-in-one travel design
- Beautiful leather-style carrying case
- 24 vibrant semi-moist watercolor paints
- Excellent 100% cotton 300 GSM watercolor paper
- Large ceramic-style mixing palette
- Surprisingly useful folding travel brush
- Loose paper that can be reordered or replaced
- Refill paper available separately
- Convenient phone & art case lanyard
Things That Could Be Improved
- One brush initially shed a few loose hairs
- Six paint colors in Becky's review set were labeled in the wrong order
- Spray bottle wasn't especially useful for her workflow
- Kit becomes tight if every sheet of paper is stored inside
- Paint pans appear relatively shallow, so heavy users may eventually need refills.
First Impressions: More Than Just Nice Packaging
The first thing Becky noticed wasn't the paints—it was the presentation.
The watercolor set arrives inside an attractive cardboard gift box before revealing a compact leather-style carrying case available in several colors.
"I'm a sucker for good packaging."
Inside the case, everything has its own dedicated place:
· 24 watercolor colors
· Ceramic-style mixing palette
· Folding paint tray
· Water brush
· Folding travel brush
· Pop-up water cup
· Fine mist spray bottle
· Everlasting pencil
· A6 cotton watercolor paper
· Swatch card
· Phone/art lanyard
For artists who like keeping supplies organized, Becky appreciated that everything packs neatly into one portable system.
Unlike many travel palettes that only include paints, this kit is designed as a complete portable studio.
One feature Becky particularly enjoyed was the removable paint drawer.
Rather than permanently fixing the palette inside the case, artists can slide it out or leave it attached depending on how they prefer to paint.
She also liked that the entire setup could comfortably rest on her lap while sketching outdoors.
"I really like this design."
"It's a small compact kit that doesn't weigh too much."
The case also works equally well for both right-handed and left-handed artists by simply rotating the paper orientation.
Watercolor Paper That Stands Out
One of Becky's biggest compliments went to the included watercolor paper.
Instead of lightweight student paper, Lightwish includes:
· 100% cotton
· 300 GSM
· Cold press
· A6 loose sheets
Becky explained that the paper performed exactly how she'd expect quality cotton watercolor paper to behave.
Another thoughtful feature is that the paper isn't permanently bound.
Artists can:
· Remove individual pages
· Rearrange paintings
· Replace finished sheets
· Give artwork away without tearing pages from a sketchbook
She also appreciated that refill packs are available separately, making the kit reusable long after the original paper has been used.
Paint Performance
The kit includes 24 semi-moist watercolor colors that activate quickly with water.
Unlike many travel paints that require soaking before use, Becky found these paints ready almost immediately.
"They activate in water really easily."
During swatching she noticed:
· Smooth transparency
· Strong color payoff
· No chalkiness
· Good layering
Some colors appeared similar while wet—particularly the oranges and greens—but became much more distinguishable after drying.
She also liked that the palette doesn't include white watercolor, preferring artists to preserve the paper's natural highlights instead.
A Surprisingly Good Travel Brush
Travel brushes included in art sets are often very small, making detailed painting difficult.
Becky found the folding travel brush much more usable.
It's approximately a size 12, with a fine point capable of both washes and detail work.
Initially, however, she noticed one issue.
"I lost a couple of hairs out of it to begin with."
Fortunately, the shedding settled down after the first painting session.
By the time she completed her outdoor sketches, Becky felt the brush was performing very well.
Rather than hiding this early issue, she explained it openly so viewers could make an informed decision.
Small Details That Make a Difference
Several accessories surprised Becky more than expected.
Pop-up Water Cup
The folding silicone water cup holds approximately 180 ml, folds flat for storage, and includes a lid.
Later in the review Becky discovered that it clips securely onto the included carabiner, preventing it from falling out whenever the case is opened.
She described this as a particularly thoughtful design feature.
Ceramic-Style Mixing Palette
Although Becky questioned whether the center palette was true ceramic because of its lighter weight, she found it behaved like ceramic while mixing.
Water spread evenly across the surface instead of beading like it often does on plastic.
Phone Lanyard
One unexpected accessory quickly became one of Becky's favorites.
The included lanyard can attach both to the watercolor case and to a smartphone.
As someone who often misplaces her phone while out sketching, Becky thought this was a genuinely practical addition.
Painting Outdoors: A Real-World Test
Rather than reviewing the kit only inside the studio, Becky took it into her garden to paint from observation.
Working with the kit on her lap demonstrated how portable the setup really is.
She particularly enjoyed:
Lightweight design
Compact footprint
Easy paint access
Comfortable painting position
The loose paper also allowed her to remove wet paintings without disturbing the remaining sheets.
Later, she completed additional layers back inside the studio—a workflow she often uses when painting outdoors.
Honest Feedback: What Could Be Better?
One reason Becky's reviews are trusted is that she discusses both strengths and weaknesses.
During her testing she identified several minor issues.
Brush Shedding
The folding brush initially lost several hairs before settling down.
While the problem disappeared during later painting, Becky wanted viewers to be aware of it.
Paint Order
Her review sample contained six colors arranged in the wrong order inside the palette.
Although this didn't affect painting performance, she pointed out the labeling inconsistency.
Spray Bottle
While functional, Becky personally didn't find the spray bottle essential because the semi-moist paints activated so easily with water.
She mentioned that she would probably replace it with a waterproof drawing pen when traveling.
Storage Capacity
Although all the included paper fits inside the case, Becky found it closed more comfortably after removing several sheets.
Who Is This Travel Watercolor Set Best For?
Based on Becky's experience, the Lightwish Travel Watercolor Set is well suited for:
· Urban sketchers
· Travel journal artists
· Outdoor painters
· Beginners learning watercolor
· Students
· Artists wanting a lightweight everyday sketch kit
· Anyone looking for an all-in-one watercolor travel solution
Its compact size also makes it easy to fit inside most handbags or small backpacks without taking up much space.
Final Thoughts
After thoroughly testing every part of the kit, Becky came away impressed by how complete the experience felt.
The combination of quality cotton paper, responsive watercolor paints, practical accessories, and thoughtful organization makes the kit genuinely useful for artists who enjoy painting away from the studio.
She also appreciated that Lightwish didn't simply include paints—they created a portable system that lets artists sketch almost anywhere.
While Becky noted a few minor issues with her review sample, none significantly affected her painting experience.
For anyone looking for a compact watercolor kit that balances portability with practical features, the Lightwish Travel Watercolor Set offers an enjoyable and well-designed solution.
Watch Becky's Complete Review
See the full unboxing, outdoor painting demonstrations, swatches, and finished artwork in Becky's original video.
About the Reviewer
Becky Tregear Art is a watercolor artist and content creator who enjoys sketching both in the studio and outdoors. For this review, Becky tested the Lightwish Travel Watercolor Set through swatching, outdoor painting, and a complete hands-on demonstration to evaluate its portability and overall performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Lightwish Travel Watercolor Set suitable for beginners?
Yes. Becky Tregear Art found the kit easy to use, with responsive watercolor paints, quality cotton paper, and all the essential accessories included. It's a practical choice for beginners as well as artists looking for a portable painting kit.
Is the watercolor paper really 100% cotton?
Yes. The kit includes 300 GSM cold press watercolor paper made from 100% cotton. Becky found it performed well during both studio and outdoor painting, with good water absorption and an enjoyable painting surface.
Can you replace the watercolor paper?
Yes. One feature Becky particularly appreciated was that the paper is loose rather than bound into a sketchbook. Individual sheets can be removed, and refill paper packs are available separately, allowing artists to continue using the kit after finishing the original paper.
Is the Lightwish Travel Watercolor Set good for outdoor painting?
Based on Becky's experience, yes. She tested the kit while painting outdoors and found the compact design, lightweight case, and organized layout made it easy to sketch on location without carrying multiple supplies.
Does the kit have any drawbacks?
Becky shared a few minor observations during her review. One brush initially shed a few hairs, several paint labels in her review sample were arranged incorrectly, and she personally didn't use the included spray bottle very often. However, she didn't feel these issues significantly affected her overall painting experience.
Explore the Lightwish Travel Watercolor Set
