If you’re looking for a fun and relaxing activity to get stuck into, a paint by numbers kit is the perfect solution. You might remember these as a former crafty kid, but the good news is that even as a grown-up, you can still enjoy them! There are plenty of easy paint by numbers kits for adults of all skill levels, even if you’re a complete beginner who hasn’t held a paintbrush since primary school.
Whether you want to paint a vintage landscape of city scenery, a portrait of a wild animal, or even have a custom photo kit made, mybest are here to show you the best adult paint by numbers kits in the UK. Easily delivered to your door from online retailers such as Amazon and Argos and with many coming with a frame and multiple brushes, we’ll have you painting in no time.
Quick List - Top Paint by Numbers Kits for Adults
Reeves
Three Top-Quality Animal Portraits for the Price of One
Bigie
A Beautiful Forest Path on a Scroll Canvas for Crease-Free Painting
YITUOMO
A Fun and Easy Project Featuring All Your Favourite Pokemon
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
Before we show you all of our favourite kits, you might be a bit stuck about which exactly to pick. This is where our guide comes in, in which we will talk you through how to look for the perfect kit for you. No matter your skill set and art preferences, we will answer all of your buying questions.
The first thing to consider when it comes to buying a paint kit should be your skills. If you’re an absolute amateur that has never painted before, attempting to paint something too complex might make it a stressful and difficult experience, which is the opposite of what you want!
There are many kits that utilise bold, simple colours without the need for complicated blending or shading. On the other hand, if you have a bit of experience under your belt, you might want to go for something more challenging to stretch yourself! No matter what your skill set is, ensure you get something that fits your needs.
Another important factor is the art style of your paint kit. This is, of course, completely up to you and your preferences and tastes.
You might like a realistic style of painting that portrays beautiful scenery or you might prefer a bold, pop art or cartoon-style painting. Paint by numbers kits come in many types of styles so no matter what your preferences are, you will have plenty of options to pick from.
Paint by numbers kits usually come with either oil or acrylic paints, but be sure to read the descriptions carefully because sometimes they are called ‘oil paintings’ even when they actually come with acrylic paints! They both have their pros and cons so it depends on what type of painting you are after.
Acrylics are the most common type of paint you will see in these kits. They are easy to paint with and are great for getting clean, crisp lines. However, they do dry rather quickly which means you will have to work carefully and quickly to ensure your paint doesn’t dry up.
This shouldn’t be an issue as long as you keep your paints covered, and on the plus side, it means you’re less prone to smudging your artwork!
Oils, on the other hand, take days to dry as opposed to hours. This is good if you like to paint carefully and slowly, but it also means your painting process may be extended longer than you’d like.
On the plus side, oil paints are often more pigmented, meaning you will achieve richer colours in your finished piece. And due to their slower drying time, it is also easier to get a smoother blend in comparison with acrylic paints.
At the bare minimum, a standard kit should come with a canvas, paints and a paintbrush, but most people find that having brushes of varying sizes yields the best results. Most decent kits will come with multiple brushes so you can easily paint those hard-to-reach corners or other details, but be sure to check the description just in case.
In addition to that, you'll probably want to frame or hang your painting, but going out to find and buy a frame of the right size can be a hassle. In that case, you might want to consider buying a kit with a frame so you have everything all in one package.
The final consideration would be the size of the finished painting. Seeing as you dedicated so much time to creating a lovely masterpiece, it would make sense that you would want to show it off to all your visitors!
If you’re short on wall space, you might get stuck with a large piece of art and no way to display it. On the other hand, too small of a painting might look silly on a large blank wall! If you have an idea of where you’d like to display it, make sure to take measurements before comparing the canvas sizes of each kit.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mifaso Custom Personalized Paint by Numbers for Adults | ![]() | A Custom Kit to Bring Any Portrait to Life | |
2 | Reeves Labrador, Horse & Giraffe Paint By Numbers Pack | ![]() | Three Top-Quality Animal Portraits for the Price of One | |
3 | Bigie Maple Forest Path Scroll Paint by Numbers for Adults | ![]() | A Beautiful Forest Path on a Scroll Canvas for Crease-Free Painting | |
4 | YITUOMO Pokemon Paint by Numbers for Adults | ![]() | A Fun and Easy Project Featuring All Your Favourite Pokemon | |
5 | Vintoney Paint by Numbers for Adults, Beautiful Scenery | ![]() | Stunning Landscape Scenery of a Coastal Town for Medium-Skilled Painters | |
6 | wojinbao DIY Paint by Numbers Pirates of the Carribean | ![]() | A Monochrome Pirates of the Caribbean Map for the Jack Sparrow Lovers Out There | |
7 | YOO SADA DIY Paint by Numbers | ![]() | Challenge Yourself With a Sunlit Ocean Wave Oil Painting | |
8 | iCoostor Love Tree Paint by Numbers | ![]() | Mix and Match Your Colours With This Trippy Love Tree Painting | |
9 | Gifmore Lazy Cat Paint By Numbers DIY | ![]() | An Easy-to-Follow Bright and Bold Cat for All Skill Sets | |
10 | CANDYL DIY Lighthouse Paint by Number Kit for Adults | ![]() | A Traditional Lighthouse Landscape for Painters Who Want to Test Themselves |
For the ultimate paint by numbers kit, what could be better than using a personalised photo to create your own design? This set allows you to turn any photo into a painting, whether that's a couple or family portrait, your beloved pets, or even your own face!
Simply send in whatever photo you want and you will receive your kit by post just like any other kit. It even comes with a frame so you can easily hang up your portrait after you've finished. This is the perfect activity to treat yourself to, but it would also be a fantastic present to gift to a loved one once complete.
If you really want to get your money's worth, go for this 3-pack from Reeves which comprises of labrador, horse and giraffe animal portraits for you to paint and enjoy. What more could an animal lover want?
No matter what skill level you are, this kit has everything you need to paint a beautiful portrait, and they're smaller than most options so they won't be too overwhelming for beginners. This set comes with a brush and board as well as the excellent-quality paints you'd expect from a trusted art brand. Enjoy all three yourself or set up a crafternoon with friends!
Made using high-quality and non-toxic acrylic paints, there is no blending required to make a stunning landscape painting. Although it may be a bit much for absolute beginners, all medium-skilled painters will be able to follow the easy directions of this kit. The canvas has also been rolled into a scroll instead of folded, which means it will arrive at your door crease-free and ready to go.
If you're a big kid that still loves the Pokemon games, this is a great paint by numbers kit for you. You won't have to go out and buy anything else either, as it arrives with all the paints you need and 3 different paintbrushes, as well as a reference paper to help you easily create your masterpiece.
Featuring your favourite Generation I Pokemon like Pikachu and Eevee as well as Generation II Pokemon like Pichu and Heracross, this is a super fun way for all the Pokemon lovers out there to share their love of the franchise. It's one of the more simple on this list too, so it's an ideal beginner project.
This kit is a bit more challenging, featuring 24 high-quality acrylic paints, and 6 differently-sized brushes for all your painting needs. But whether it takes you a week or a month to complete, you are sure to end up with a stunning painting to show off at the end of it all.
Ahoy me hearties! Ever fancied yourself a pirate sailing the seas? This Pirates of the Caribbean map is the first step in your adventures, featuring Captain Jack Sparrow and other exciting details from the swashbuckling series.
Don't be fooled by its minimalist colour palette, because this painting by number kit will be just as challenging as a complicated landscape scenery. There are two sizes available too, so you can go smaller or larger depending on your wall space. Either way, you'll be exploring the Caribbean seas in no time with this exciting paint set!
For the ultimate challenge in your paint by numbers kit, why not go all in with this stunning beach wave landscape? It contains all the paint colours you need and a variety of different brushes so you can reach every little spot. It also comes with a frame, though there is also the option to go without for a lower cost if you prefer.
With the golden sun shining through the glittery blue waves, this paint by numbers kit is a fantastic way to take your mind off life and escape to another world. Just be aware that due to the complex nature of this painting, it might take a while to complete!
This kit is a great way to let your creativity flow, but if you're someone who would prefer to follow a set of instructions exactly, you might not have as much fun with such an abstract painting.
This kit is excellent for absolute beginners but it might not be your thing if you want something a bit more challenging. For something more complicated, you might want to refer to the other options on our list.
Whether you're an amateur or an experienced painter, this lighthouse painting is the perfect way to test yourself. With a beautiful brick lighthouse, crashing waves and thick clouds, there are plenty of minute details to challenge your painting skills.
However, painters should note that the numbers are printed quite faintly so it may be difficult to see if you're more of a beginner at this. Plus this canvas comes folded so there will be deep creases you may need to iron out!
Now you’ve ordered your paint by numbers kit, you might find it helpful to read our tips and advice while you’re waiting for it to arrive. This is especially useful if you’re new to painting, and might help you avoid some common errors!
Before you even unbox your kit, make sure you find a good, well-lit space in your home to do your painting. It might take an evening to finish, but it also might take a whole month! Either way, be sure you have a suitable space to leave your kit or to set it up so you can easily put it away without ruining your art.
After that’s set up, it might be a good idea to prepare your canvas for painting. Iron out any wrinkles or creases so you have a smooth canvas, then take a photo of it! That way, you will have a clean reference sheet to look back on, just in case you have any accidents or spills further down the line.
After you’ve set up your area and settled yourself in a comfy position, you can finally get ready to paint. But don’t go rushing in straight to the middle of your canvas! Start with the darkest colours first, then go lighter, for the cleanest lines and colours.
If you’re right-handed, it’s recommended to start from the top left corner and move from left to right and top to bottom. If you’re left-handed, then start from the top right corner, moving from right to left and top to bottom. This prevents any accidental smudges while you’re painting.
A tidy space makes for a tidy mind, and it’s no different when you’re painting. Make sure you’re cleaning your brush with water every time you change colours, as well as any other spills or messes you might make.
For the best experience. it’s recommended to just paint one colour at a time, as this will prevent your paints from drying out.
The final piece of advice we have for you is to just have fun with it! Fight that inner perfectionist voice that gets mad when you accidentally paint outside the lines.
It’ll be a lot more of an enjoyable time if you don’t worry about every tiny little imperfection. After all, no one else will notice these things when the painting is complete!
Looking for more creative ways to pass the time indoors? From jewellery to beer, there's an almost infinite number of cool kits to get stuck into as an adult once you've reignited that crafty spark!
So there we have our best paint by numbers kits for adults. Along with our buying guide and painting advice, we hope you will have a relaxing time painting your new kit. Soon you will have a brand new masterpiece to show off in your home, or even to gift to a lucky loved one.
Author: Dodo Wang
No. 1: Mifaso|Custom Personalized Paint by Numbers for Adults
No. 2: Reeves|Labrador, Horse & Giraffe Paint By Numbers Pack
No. 3: Bigie|Maple Forest Path Scroll Paint by Numbers for Adults
No. 4: YITUOMO|Pokemon Paint by Numbers for Adults
No. 5: Vintoney|Paint by Numbers for Adults, Beautiful Scenery
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games