Watercolour paints
Pan sets are compact and great for travel; tubes suit larger washes. "Artist" quality paints generally have more pigment than "student" ranges, but student sets are fine to learn with.
Shop nowCraft guide
Painting & drawing supplies
Sketching the view on a coastal walk, painting the garden in watercolour, or learning acrylics from scratch: here's what goes in the art box.
You don't need a studio to paint or draw. A sketchbook and a pencil case of basics can go anywhere, from the kitchen table to a bench on the prom. The big decision is which medium to start with.
Watercolour is portable and quick to clean up but can feel unforgiving. Acrylic dries fast, covers mistakes easily and works on canvas, card and wood. Drawing with graphite or coloured pencils needs the least kit of all.
Supplies to look for
Watercolour paper
The paper matters more than the paint. Around 300gsm is a common weight that resists buckling. "Cold pressed" has a gentle texture; "hot pressed" is smooth for fine detail.
Shop nowAcrylic paints
A small set of primary colours plus white and black lets you mix almost anything. Keep lids tight, as acrylic dries quickly.
Shop nowBrushes
A few decent brushes beat a big bag of cheap ones: a medium round, a small round for detail and a flat for washes. Synthetic brushes are good all-rounders.
Shop nowSketchbooks
A5 fits in a bag for sketching out and about; A4 gives room at home. Check the paper weight if you want to use pens or light washes.
Shop nowGraphite pencils
Pencils are graded from hard (H) to soft (B). A small range such as 2H, HB, 2B and 6B covers light guidelines through to deep shadows.
Shop nowBuying tips
- Buy fewer, better materials. A limited palette teaches colour mixing faster than a 48-colour set.
- Keep two water pots when painting: one for rinsing, one clean for mixing.
- Acrylic ruins brushes if it dries in them, so wash them straight after a session.
- Look for a putty rubber (kneadable eraser) for drawing: it lifts graphite without damaging paper.
- Children's art materials should be labelled as suitable for their age; see our kids' crafts guide.
Good to know in the UK
Paper weights: UK and European papers are sold in gsm, while some imported pads show pounds (lb). A 300gsm watercolour paper is roughly equivalent to 140lb. A-series sizes (A5, A4, A3) are standard for sketchbooks and pads, so frames and mounts are easy to find for finished pieces.
Plein-air painting in Britain means planning for the weather: a waterproof bag for your sketchbook and a folding stool are useful additions.
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Just starting out? Read the beginners' guide or pick a weekend project.