Calligraphy Pens

A good piece of calligraphy needs good paper, and it needs a good pen. The essentials are a sound nib structure and a generous ink capacity: a nib that flexes unpredictably or runs dry mid-stroke will undermine otherwise careful work.

Those qualities are what separate one pen from another. The specialist manufacturers — Pilot, Zig and Artline — each carry broad ranges of ready-to-use pens built to consistent standards.

Choosing a nib width

Nib width should follow the scale you write at. Broad-edge nibs give the contrast between thick and thin strokes that defines most calligraphic hands; narrower nibs suit smaller work and everyday practice. Starting with two or three widths in the same range is a practical way to find what suits your hand.

Our drawing category carries calligraphy pens and boxed pen sets across the full spread, from inexpensive practice pens through to specialist nib structures for professional use, in a range of colours.