diff --git a/colour.cpp b/colour.cpp
index 97fb191d..ffe0525b 100644
--- a/colour.cpp
+++ b/colour.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@
 using namespace util;
 
 
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+const util::colour util::colour::WHITE ({ 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0 });
+const util::colour util::colour::BLACK ({ 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0 });
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/colour.hpp b/colour.hpp
index 416f993e..36736c6c 100644
--- a/colour.hpp
+++ b/colour.hpp
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ namespace util {
         double green;
         double blue;
         double alpha;
+
+        static const colour WHITE;
+        static const colour BLACK;
     };
 
     template <> colour& randomise (colour&);