The best Christmas gifts for artists are supplies they will actually reach for, whether they paint every weekend or have only just started sketching.
Prices checked on Amazon UK, 12 October 2026.
The best Christmas gifts for artists are supplies they will actually reach for, whether they paint every weekend or have only just started sketching. Art materials run out, sketchbooks fill up and there is always a new medium to try, so a well-chosen gift is rarely wasted. This guide covers painting, drawing and lettering, with prices checked on Amazon UK on 12 October 2026, and every product was in stock with no low-stock warning on the listing. Our overall pick is the Artworx table top easel painting set at £23.99, a wooden box easel that comes with 24 acrylic paints, two canvases and brushes. For the smallest budget, the Major Brushes watercolour paint tin with 36 colour blocks was £6.55. For families who like to draw and colour together, the Artecho set of 24 dual tip brush pens was £6.79. You will also find the 365 Days of Art journal by Lorna Scobie, an Artway Studio A5 hardback sketchbook and Amteker watercolour brush pens. Prices change often, so check the live price before you buy.
Our picks
Artworx Painting Set for Adults
Artworx Painting Set for Adults
£23.99
Best overall
Major Brushes Artist Watercolour Paint Tin
Major Brushes Artist Watercolour Paint Tin
£6.55
Best budget
Artecho 24 Dual Tip Brush Pens
Artecho 24 Dual Tip Brush Pens
£6.79
Best for families
How we pick
We shortlist products sold on Amazon UK using capacity, features, customer ratings and price band. We do not lab-test every model unless a page says so. The Amazon page is the live price. How we recommend.
Compare at a glance
| Product | Last Amazon price | Buy |
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£23.99
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£6.55
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£6.79
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£13.39
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£5.33
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£9.47
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The products
Buying advice
Our top picks
Best overall: Artworx Painting Set for Adults, Portable Table Top Easel Set (£23.99). A complete starter set for someone who wants to paint on canvas. The Amazon UK listing says it includes 24 acrylic paints, two 30cm x 24cm canvases, a six-brush set, a mixing palette, a palette knife and a full colour tutorial guide. The wooden box easel doubles as storage, with compartments for paints and tools, a carry handle and an adjustable canvas clamp. Closed, the box measures 40cm x 27cm x 12cm, and it takes canvases from 30cm up to 57cm high, so it suits a kitchen table or desk.
Best budget: Major Brushes Artist Watercolour Paint Tin, 36 Blocks (£6.55). A metal tin of 36 ready-mixed watercolour blocks, with an indented lid designed to act as a mixing palette and a card showing the colour names. The listing notes that it does not include a paint brush, so pair it with brushes or the water brush pens in the Amteker set below.
Best for families: Artecho 24 Dual Tip Brush Pens (£6.79). Brush pens are easy to pick up for adults and older children alike, which makes them good for a family colouring session over the holidays. Each pen has a 0.4mm fineliner at one end and a 1 to 2mm brush tip at the other. Artecho says the ink is water-based, acid-free, odourless and non-toxic, and suits colouring books, hand lettering, bullet journals, manga and sketching.
Other Christmas gifts for artists
365 Days of Art by Lorna Scobie (£13.39). An interactive art journal with 365 creative prompts, one for every day of the year. The description says you draw, sketch, doodle and paint directly onto its pages, with exercises on shapes, patterns, lines, shading, lettering and calligraphy, for complete beginners up to experienced hobbyists. The paperback runs to 352 pages.
Artway Studio A5 Landscape Hardback Sketchbook (£5.33). A casebound hardback with 46 pages (92 sides) of 170gsm acid-free cartridge paper that opens flat. Artway says it takes pencil, charcoal, pastel, pen, ink and marker, plus light watercolour washes.
Amteker 24+2 Watercolour Brush Pens Set (£9.47). Twenty-four soft nylon brush pens plus two water brush pens for blending colours into a watercolour effect. The listing says they are water-based, non-toxic and EN71 certified.
What to look for in a Christmas gift for an artist
Match their medium. Find out whether they mostly paint, draw or letter. A painter will use an easel set or watercolours, someone who sketches will get through a good sketchbook, and a hand-lettering fan will love brush pens.
Check what is included. Some sets are complete, such as the Artworx easel set with paints, canvases and brushes, while others need extras. The Major Brushes watercolour tin does not include a brush, so add one or choose water brush pens.
Paper weight matters. Sketchbooks list their paper weight in gsm. Heavier paper, such as the 170gsm Artway Studio book, copes better with ink and light washes than thin copier paper, but very wet watercolour work needs a dedicated watercolour pad.
Beginner or experienced? For a beginner, a guided journal like 365 Days of Art or a starter easel set gives them a place to begin. For an experienced artist, consumables such as paints, pens and sketchbooks are safe because they always get used.
Bundle a small kit. The watercolour tin, the Amteker water brush pens and the sketchbook together came to £21.35 at the prices checked, which makes a neat watercolour starter kit.
Prices were checked on Amazon UK on 12 October 2026 and can change at any time. Check the current price and delivery date on Amazon before you order, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
Frequently asked questions
What to buy an artist for Christmas?
Art supplies that match the medium they use are the safest gifts, such as paints, brush pens, a good sketchbook or a guided art journal. Consumables always get used, so they are unlikely to duplicate something the artist owns. Picks in this guide ranged from £5.33 to £23.99 on Amazon UK when checked on 12 October 2026.
What are brush pens used for?
Brush pens have a flexible, brush-like tip that makes thin or thick strokes depending on pressure. They are popular for hand lettering, calligraphy, colouring books, journaling and illustration. The Artecho dual tip pens in this guide add a 0.4mm fineliner at the other end for fine lines.
How to use watercolour brush pens?
Draw or colour with the brush pen, then use a water brush or a damp paintbrush to spread and blend the ink for a watercolour effect. The Amteker set in this guide includes two water brush pens for blending, according to the listing. Thicker paper handles the water better than thin paper.
Is acrylic paint water based?
Yes, acrylic paint is water based. It can be thinned and cleaned off brushes with water while it is wet, but it dries to a water-resistant finish, so wash brushes before the paint dries. The Artworx easel set in this guide includes 24 acrylic paints, according to the listing.
