Paint Supplies
Quality paints make colour mixing intuitive and application enjoyable. Whether you work in watercolour, acrylic, or oils, well-made paints offer consistent handling, reliable coverage, and colours that stay true over time. The right materials support your creative process rather than getting in the way.
This section covers painting media and accessories: watercolours for luminous washes and delicate effects, acrylics for versatile and fast-drying work, and supporting supplies like mediums, brushes, and palettes. We focus on products that perform reliably at their price point.
Our recommendations include both student and artist grade options. Student paints offer excellent value for learning and practice, while artist grades provide the pigment density and permanence needed for professional work. Each product is assessed on formulation quality, handling characteristics, and value.
Top Picks for Paint
Winsor & Newton
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Set
An excellent entry point to watercolour painting without compromising on handling characteristics. Cotman paints behave predictably and mix cleanly, helping beginners learn technique without fighting their materials.
- Student-grade quality at accessible price
- Good colour selection in compact sets
- Rewets easily and mixes well
- Less pigment density than professional grades
- Some colours less lightfast than artist quality
Budget to mid-range, £15-40 depending on set size
Check priceDaler-Rowney
Daler-Rowney Graduate Acrylic Set
A solid student-grade acrylic range that punches above its weight. The creamy consistency makes these paints easy to work with, and the colour range is comprehensive enough for most projects.
- Excellent pigment load for student grade
- Smooth consistency straight from tube
- Wide colour range available
- Dries quickly on palette
- Some colours have lower lightfastness
Budget-friendly, typically £15-25 for sets
Check pricePebeo
Pebeo Drawing Gum
Essential for watercolourists who need to preserve white areas or create hard-edged highlights. The blue tint makes it easy to see where it has been applied, and it peels away cleanly once the painting is dry.
- Easy to apply with brush or ruling pen
- Peels off cleanly when dry
- Tinted blue for visibility
- Can damage delicate papers if left too long
- Ruins brushes if not cleaned immediately
Budget-friendly, typically £5-10
Check priceKhadi
Khadi Handmade Paper Pack
Handmade cotton rag paper from India with distinctive texture and deckle edges. The 100% cotton composition makes this paper exceptionally durable and receptive to wet media, with each sheet offering unique surface character.
- Beautiful deckle edges and texture
- 100% cotton rag for archival quality
- Handles wet media exceptionally well
- Irregular surface not suited to fine detail
- Higher cost per sheet than machine-made paper
Premium, typically £15-30 for packs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I start with student or artist grade paints?
Student grade paints are perfectly suitable for learning and practice. They cost less and behave predictably, allowing you to focus on technique without worrying about wasting expensive materials. As your skills develop and you create work for sale or exhibition, upgrading to artist grade paints offers richer pigments and better lightfastness.
What is the difference between watercolour and gouache?
Watercolour is transparent, allowing light to reflect off the paper through the paint layers. Gouache is opaque and covers the surface completely. Watercolour suits luminous, layered effects, while gouache works well for flat colour and illustrations where you need to paint light over dark.
How many colours do I need to start painting?
A limited palette of 6 to 12 colours covers most mixing needs. Many artists work with even fewer. A warm and cool version of each primary (red, yellow, blue) plus white gives you excellent mixing range. Add earth tones and convenience colours as you identify gaps in your palette.
Can I mix different brands of paint?
Within the same medium, different brands generally mix well together. Watercolours, acrylics, and oils from different manufacturers can be combined without issue. However, avoid mixing different media together, as their chemistry differs and results may be unpredictable or unstable.