"Even if Painting does very little to expand the sonic palette of Ocean Colour Scene, it is a very strong, self-assured and confident recording. It's, in other words, a crowd pleaser. While I'm unsure if this is the stuff that will make international audiences swoon with delight, thanks to the LP's British-isms, it is definitely an album that the faithful in their homeland will hold closely to their chest and be happy to call it their own".