Description

Zest-it was born in 1995 from a very practical need. Jacqui Blackman, a working artist and oil painting workshop facilitator based in the UK, found that the turpentine and white spirit used by her students caused persistent headaches and sore throats in the studio. Determined to find something better, she set out to develop a solvent that was non-toxic, non-flammable, pleasant to use, and genuinely effective. The result was the now iconic Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner, a formula built on Aliphatic Hydrocarbon and pure food-grade Citrus Oil extracted from the zest of citrus fruit. The name itself comes directly from that citrus zest and the concept of ‘cleaning it’, simplified to Zest-it.

The Registered Trademark was secured in 1996, and from that point, the brand grew steadily in both range and reputation. Manufactured in the United Kingdom by J. & T. Blackman Ltd., Zest-it products consistently deliver low VOC content, zero CFCs, zero Aromatics, and a pleasant orangey-citrus fragrance rather than the harsh chemical odours associated with traditional solvents. By the late 1990s, Zest-it had been reviewed and endorsed by major UK art publications, including Artists and Illustrators, Leisure Painter, and The Artist. Educational institutions such as the Leith School of Art adopted the range early and continue to use it today. Zest-it has since expanded far beyond its original solvent into a comprehensive studio range covering acrylic cleaners, dip pen and fountain pen solutions, cold wax mediums, dry media additives, printmaking supplies, pencil blending fluids, and glazing mediums — all built on the same founding principle: safer solutions for artists.

Every artist and studio manager knows the frustration of adhesive residue. Masking tape leaves sticky traces on frames, windows, and drawing boards. Price labels transfer a layer of adhesive to art materials and tools. Tape used to stretch watercolour paper can leave a gummy deposit that attracts dust and disrupts subsequent work. Conventional solvents like acetone or white spirit can remove these residues, but they carry significant risks — they strip coatings, bleach certain substrates, and fill the studio with hazardous fumes. Zest-it Adhesive Remover takes a different approach.

Based on the same citrus-oil chemistry that underpins the entire Zest-it range, the Adhesive Remover uses the natural solvent properties of citrus oil to penetrate and lift adhesive bonds without the aggressive action of conventional solvents. Apply a small amount to the affected area, allow a few seconds for the formula to penetrate the adhesive layer, then wipe away cleanly with a lint-free cloth. For thicker or more stubborn deposits — such as long-standing tape residue on a wooden easel or metal palette — a brief soak followed by gentle agitation with a soft brush will break down the adhesive fully. Always test on an inconspicuous area before applying to delicate or varnished surfaces, as the citrus oil component can soften certain coatings with prolonged contact.