UK watercolour suppliers: where to buy materials in the UK
An independent guide to the main UK watercolour suppliers — range, pricing, shipping thresholds, and which shop suits each type of buyer.
The main UK watercolour suppliers differ more than their overlapping catalogues suggest. Some carry considerably more depth on artist quality materials. Shipping thresholds vary enough to affect what a purchase actually costs. This page covers the six retailers worth knowing, what each does well, and where to go first depending on what you need.
Best for each type of buyer
Best for range and artist quality brands — Jackson's
Jackson's carries one of the more complete watercolour ranges from a UK retailer, with strong depth on artist quality paints, papers, and brushes. Their own-brand range is worth attention — the quality sits well above what the price suggests. For anyone buying beyond beginner level, Jackson's is usually the right first stop.
Read supplier notesBest for beginners and everyday materials — Cass Art
Cass Art covers the mainstream brands competently and has a useful own-brand range at the lower end. Their physical stores, with locations in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and several other cities, make them a practical option for anyone who wants to see paper or handle a brush before buying. For a first watercolour kit, Cass Art is a reasonable starting point.
Read supplier notesBest for value and discounts — ARTdiscount
ARTdiscount positions itself around discounted materials and a price match promise. Worth checking when buying familiar materials in quantity, or when you know exactly what you want and price is the main variable. Less useful for browsing or discovering new materials.
Read supplier notesBest for specialist materials — Cornelissen
Cornelissen is a long-established London supplier with a narrower catalogue than the volume retailers but considerably more depth on specialist pigments, papers, and materials. It is not the natural first stop for everyday purchases, but when you need something specific that others do not stock, Cornelissen is often where to look.
Read supplier notesSupplier notes
Jackson's
Jackson's is primarily an online retailer but operates shops in Dalston, Fulham, and Gloucester, with Click and Collect available. Their watercolour range covers Daniel Smith, Winsor and Newton, Schmincke, and a well-regarded own-brand line.
For a detailed look at how watercolour paints compare across brands, see our guide to watercolour pigment codes — understanding what is on the label makes a significant difference to buying well.
Free standard delivery on orders over £45.
Cass Art
Cass Art has a broad general art supplies range with particular accessibility at the beginner and intermediate level. Physical stores in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and several other cities make it convenient for in-person browsing.
If you are putting together a first kit and want to handle materials before committing, Cass Art is among the more practical options available from the UK watercolour suppliers covered here.
Free UK delivery on orders over £50.
ARTdiscount
ARTdiscount is run by Granthams Ltd and focuses on discounted art materials with a price match policy. The range covers most mainstream watercolour brands.
Worth checking for competitive pricing, particularly on larger orders. It makes more sense when you know exactly what you want than when you are trying to compare unfamiliar materials.
Ken Bromley
Ken Bromley carries a solid range of watercolour papers, paints, and brushes at competitive prices. Particularly useful for paper purchases, where the per-sheet cost adds up quickly.
For guidance on choosing the right paper, see our best watercolour paper for beginners in the UK — weight, surface, and sizing all affect how a sheet performs.
Check the site for current shipping terms.
GreatArt
GreatArt has a large general catalogue covering most mainstream watercolour materials. Less distinctive than Jackson's or Cornelissen but worth checking for range and pricing on a broad selection of brands. Free UK delivery on orders over £75.
Cornelissen
Cornelissen is one of the oldest fine art suppliers in London, with a physical shop near the British Museum in Bloomsbury. The range leans toward the specialist end — unusual pigments, high-quality papers, and materials unlikely to be found at the volume retailers. Prices reflect the quality and the positioning. Not the place for everyday restocking, but genuinely useful for the serious painter looking for something the mainstream suppliers do not carry. The Cornelissen website gives a reasonable sense of the range before visiting.
A note on Amazon
Amazon stocks a wide range of watercolour materials and is worth checking for competitive pricing on mainstream brands. It is less reliable for specialist papers and professional-grade paints, where the dedicated suppliers UK painters rely on tend to offer better range and more useful product information. For individual items where price is the deciding factor, it is a reasonable option.
Browse watercolour materials on AmazonFrequently asked questions
On artist quality materials, Jackson's is often the better value, particularly when their own-brand range is factored in. Cass Art is more competitive at the beginner and student level. The difference on individual items is rarely large enough to justify splitting an order, but for a significant purchase it is worth comparing both.
Most of the main suppliers offer free standard delivery above a threshold. Jackson's from £45, Cass Art from £50, GreatArt from £75. ARTdiscount, Ken Bromley, and Cornelissen — check their sites for current terms as these change periodically.
Jackson's and Cornelissen both carry strong paper ranges. Jackson's is broader and more accessible. Cornelissen goes deeper on specialist and less common papers. Ken Bromley is worth checking for competitive pricing on papers you already know well. For more detail on what to look for, see our best watercolour paper for beginners in the UK.
For a first purchase, probably not. The range is specialist and the pricing reflects that. Cass Art or Jackson's will serve a beginner better. Cornelissen becomes more relevant as your practice develops and you start looking for materials the mainstream retailers do not carry.