A List of UK based Online Art Suppliers

A list of online suppliers of fine art materials in the UK

Due to the closure of all non essential shops as from this morning, all art shops you can visit in the UK should now be closed - which means ordering online or via email or telephone to replenish your supplies of whatever you need for your art.  Or working your way through the stock of art materials you've been building up for some time! ;)

I made a list a little while back of online suppliers for a website I'm building about Fine Art Materials - paints, pastels, pencils, paper, canvases, art equipment etc.

Unlike my list of art shops (which is ordered geographically), this list of online suppliers is organised alphabetically - because of course it doesn't matter where you live or where they are based so long as they can ship to you.You can find that list below. I've not checked every detail of what I've written - but every link should be live.

If you have more online art supplies retailers to recommend please leave a comment - with name and url address and WHY you recommend that supplier.

UPDATEL 25 MARCH 2020: I've updated this morning for links or notes about what websites are saying re Covid-19 Updates

(I've reopened comments and am sincerely hoping I'm not going to go back to the spamfest of the past!!) 

Banner for the as yet unpublished "UK Art Shops and Online Art Supplies"

Important notes

• Pricing: Online suppliers can choose to offer deep discounts on prices found in retail stores. 

• Suppliers who have both retail and online supplies may have two different pricing structures and/or deals which are only available online. 
• Overseas customers should remember to check with their Customs whether they will have any import tax to pay.

• Check the shipping costs and agents used - What might seem cheap on an item by item basis may start to look a lot more expensive by the time you've added in the shipping. 

• Work out what is the best size of order to take advantage of any deals on free shipping. 
• Beware suppliers who use UPS - they have been known to say they called when the artist was at home and knew they hadn't.  Check who the online supplier uses for deliveries.

I've had a twitter reply from UPS to say consider it "lost in transit"
an artist I know 

• You have the option if your supplier is local to choose your own courier to pick up direct from the retailer (if they will allow this). 

• Coronavirus has generated a lot of orders - It's apparent that some of the art suppliers are being overwhelmed with orders for art material for kids. So if you need any art supplies I wouldn't leave it to the last minute - or you might like to try a new supplier who doesn't stock art materials suitable for kids.

• Europe is no longer shipping supplies - so if you want supplies from European suppliers yu'd be well advised to order sooner rather than later - but PLEASE do not order more than you need and DO NOT HOARD!

Attention online suppliers of art materials and equipment!

I will be noting the artists who write and comment either online or via private emails/messages to be about performance.
So if you don't want an adverse comment on your company as a supplier of fine art materials do try to make sure 

• you stick to your delivery timescales 
• and/or make sure art supplies actually arrive!

A

• A.P. Fitzpatrick Fine Art Materials - A unique, specialist art materials store in Bethnal Green close to the very many galleries and artists' studios in the East End of London.  Shop online from specialist supplie Covid-19 Update: All shop business including online sales temporarily SUSPENDED as of 21.03.20.
• Art Discount - Online store for art supplies, craft materials and artist's equipment. They claim massive discounts and speedy delivery. They use reputable carrier services who require a signature on delivery Covid-19 Update: online store is open and operational as usual, UK delivery services remain largely unaffected at this point.
  Unfortunately due to the current circumstances we will not be able to take any further orders for Winsor & Newton Canvases
• Artesaver - Artesaver - The online site for Seawhite. Art Materials at Factory Prices. Art and design equipment and supplies, sketchbooks, holdalls, foamboard, presentation etc... all at competitive prices. (Linked to Seawhite of Brighton - see retail section)
• ArtiFolk - all your art supplies under one roof in the UK. The prices you see are what you pay, no VAT to add, and post and packing only if you spend less than £40 (UK Mainland). You can order online and use either our secure payment facility or pay. Very good reviews.
• Artistmaterial - online home of Turnham Arts & Crafts based at 2 Bedford Park Corner, Turnham Green Terrace, London W4 1LS Tel: +44 20 8995 2872. Covid-19 Update: you can continue to place orders online but there may be delays in delivery

C

• Cult Pens - In my opinion  "Nice people and very helpful" Top-quality pens at discount prices. Large range of hard-to-find pens, pencils and accessories. Covid-19 Update - still delivering fairly normally, but a few orders may take a day longer to send than usual.
  

D

• Details @ Newcastle Arts Centre - Online website - with ordering facilities - for a leading retail art store based in Newcastle Arts Centre

G

• Great Art Supplies - A leading online art supplies company. Great Art is the trading name and style of Gerstaecker UK Ltd, located at Alton, Hampshire since 2002. Covid-19 Update is a pop-up (part of which is reproduced below)

Home delivery remains fully available for all our customers
Our indicated stock levels online are updated in real-time : You are sure to get the requested products delivered if available online ! 

• Green & Stone - Fine Art Materials -  Green & Stone do not offer online facilities to buy online but do offer an excellent catalogue and a Mail Order service and can send most items to most destinations. Browse through the online catalogues, then contact by email, post or phone Covid-19 Update: unclear whether they are still operating now the shop is required to cloe

H

• Hawthorn Printmaker Supplies- Based in North Yorkshire. They specialise in the design, manufacture and supply of presses, rollers and inks
• Heaton Cooper Studio - Art shop with online purchase of art materials and art supplies. Based in the Lake District and run by a family who have been in the art business for a long time. 

I

• Intaglio Printmaker - The Specialist Suppliers of Equipment and Materials to Artist Printmakers. Covid-19 Update: Shop is closed but mail order service is continuing as usual. (Fax is not working)
  

J

• Jackson's Art Supplies - Jacksons Art Supplies is a leading art materials mail-order company in the UK. They offer a wide range of art materials for serious amateur and professional artists with low prices, friendly service and speedy order processing. Covid-19 Update

K

• Ken Bromley Art Supplies - Artists' materials at discount prices. Supply a wide range of paints, paper, canvas, brushes, easels, accessories and more. Fast and friendly service. COVID-19 Update
• Kremer Pigmente GmbH & Co. KG - Kremer Pigments have been developed for art and restoration. They have the largest range and assortment of historical pigments world-wide. (NB Not based in the UK but will deliver)

L  

Our staff are doing a wonderful job getting our orders out, mostly within 24 hours, but sadly no replacement supplies are coming in from most of Europe and we fear that the same will soon be the case for goods that we import from manufacturers in the USA 
Lawrence Art Supplies

• Lawrence Art Supplies - Hove shop is closed but warehouse and mail order is still open.
  
• Lavender Hill Colours - "supplying the next generation of figurative painters". Stocks fine art materials sourced from Europe and the US, offering artists a wide range of supplies for both personal and professional development. Well designed online site with a range of art materials not normally found online from UK suppliers Covid-19 Update: still sending out packages but will only be doing this twice a week, and can not offer a one-day service. Do place your regular order through this online shop. We will be using Parcelforce so postal charges may vary slightly.

O 

• on-linepaper.co.uk - Specialise in fine art papers for ink-jet printers. State they have tested all the papers sold and guarantee the quality of all paper products Based in East Sussex. Covid-19 Update

P

• Pegasus Art - a specialist supplier of artist materials, both for professional and amateur painters. Shop is at Griffin Mill outside Stroud in Gloucestershire
• Premium Art Brands Ltd - Note this states it for business trade accounts only and minimum orders apply - professional artists and art societies should enquire for details
• Pullingers Art Shop - Discount art supplies, fine writing pens, stationery, paper and craft. Online branch of Pullingers Art Shop of Epsom, Farnham & Kingston Upon Thames.

R

• Rosemary & Co - Brush specialists - much loved by numerous artists. Has an online shop for brushes for watercolours, oil,s acrylics and brush sets plus related art materials
  
• Russell and Chapple - Canvas specialists; no online ordering. Mail order only.  Coroanvirus has extended all their lead times (i.e. there have been problems with deliveries) Covid-19 Update: now only supplying through mail order our core product range of fabrics and stretcher bars.

S

• SAA Shop - Art Materials / Supplies - Society of Amateur members enjoy free delivery and the SAA Price Match Promise *The SAA has always represented good value...now we make you our price promise - if you can buy an identical product cheaper anywhere else - we will match it! (see site for more details) Covid-19 Update: Operating as usual
• Seawhite  - Not really an online store. Seawhite are suppliers and manufacturers of art & design materials to education and retail. Manufacturer of some of the UK's finest sketchbooks.​ Teacher, School Administrator, Retailer, VAT Registered Business, Seawhite Approved Art Group with accounts can order via email, fax or phone. Everybody else needs to use Artsesaver (listed above)
• Shepherds Bookbinders Ltd / including Falkiners Fine Papers - Source of huge range of unusual papers. These are the people I go for archival standard Japanese hinging tape! Specialising in Bookbinding and Book Arts; Fine art paper - painting, drawing, printmaking and conservation; Conservation & restoration; Archival storage & presentation solutions; Digital & traditional printmaking and more!  Based near Victoria Station at 30 Gillingham Street, London SW1V 1HU Covid-19 Update: Urgent orders should NOT be placed. All orders are subject to severe delays and may not despatch for 3-4 weeks

T

• The Canvas Store - Canvas for Artists, Schools and Interior Design.

I usually buy stretched canvas from http://www.canvas-store.co.uk. I'm quite happy with them, very good prices.
Ursula 

• Two Rivers Paper -  Buy online direct from the paper mill Buy online or via telephone. Discounts for large orders. Free UK Standard Delivery

As of today, the mill is working normally, although of course we are all being particularly careful of personal space and overall hygiene.....That said, Jim lives on the premises and intends to keep the mill running for as long as he is fit and well and stocks of raw materials hold out. We are still taking and dispatching orders, but it is almost inevitable that some items will be temporarily out of stock and business dealt with on a first come, first served basis.