1Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolour sketchers' pocket box
This pocket box has 12 Cotman half pans and a travel brush, so they can paint wherever they stop. The colours are a mix of warm and cool shades, including ultramarine, sap green and burnt sienna, and it all folds down small enough for a coat pocket.
Pros
- 12 half pans and a travel brush.
- Small enough for a coat pocket.
Cons
- Only 12 colours, so mixing is needed for more.
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Winsor & Newton product page ↗
2Faber-Castell Polychromos colour pencils, tin of 24
Polychromos are the coloured pencils a lot of serious artists work with. Each has a thick 3.8mm lead, and Faber-Castell bonds the lead into the wood so it's highly break resistant. The colours are made to be lightfast, so finished drawings won't fade.
Pros
- Thick 3.8mm leads.
- Highly break resistant.
- Made to be lightfast.
Cons
- 24 colours is a starter set for keen artists.
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Faber-Castell product page ↗
3Derwent Inktense pencils, tin of 24
Inktense pencils draw like a pencil, then turn into vivid, ink-like colour when they add water. Once dry, the colour is permanent, so they can layer over it without it lifting. They even work on fabric, fixed with a cool hand wash.
Pros
- Turns to vivid ink with water.
- Permanent once dry, so it layers well.
- Works on fabric too.
Cons
- They'll need a brush or water brush to get the ink effect.
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Derwent product page ↗
4Pentel Aquash water brush, pack of 3
A water brush holds its own water in the barrel, so there's no jar to knock over. This pack has fine, medium and broad nylon tips, each with a refillable 10ml tank. It pairs well with watercolour pencils and pocket paint sets for painting on the go.
Pros
- Fine, medium and broad tips.
- No water jar needed.
Cons
- Nylon tips, not natural hair.
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Pentel product page ↗
5uni Posca PC-5M paint markers
Posca markers put down opaque, water-based paint that covers well on almost anything, from paper to wood, stone and canvas. The PC-5M has a medium 1.8 to 2.5mm tip, and the range runs to nearly 40 colours, including fluorescents and metallics.
Pros
- Opaque paint that covers in one coat.
- Works on wood, stone and canvas.
Cons
- Needs shaking and priming before use.
- Water-based, so outdoor work needs a varnish.
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uni Posca product page ↗
6Sakura Pigma Micron fineliners, set of 3
Pigma Micron pens are a favourite for inking drawings and sketchbooks. The ink is pigment-based and archival, so it won't fade, and it's waterproof once dry, which means they can paint watercolour over the lines. This set has 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5mm tips.
Pros
- Waterproof once dry, so it's safe under watercolour.
- Archival, fade-resistant ink.
Cons
- Fine tips can wear down if pressed hard.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Sakura product page ↗
What to buy someone who loves art
Artists are fussy about the materials they use every day, so trusted brands are the safest bet. The best gifts for artists add a new medium to try or a better version of something they already use. Check whether they draw, paint or do both, and whether they like working outdoors. Art supplies from names like Winsor & Newton and Faber-Castell are a good place to start.
How we picked these gifts for artists
We picked each product for what artists enjoy and because it makes sense as a present. The order is our own choice. The pros and cons come from published product details, not customer reviews.
Amazon shows the current price and delivery. Where we've checked that the US listing is the same product, the US link goes there. Otherwise you'll get the UK listing, labelled as such. More about our research.
