10 Best Drawing Pencils UK 2024 | Mechanical Pencils and More

If you've ever been to an art class or practised drawing or sketching as a hobby, you will probably be familiar with Derwent. The Cumberland pencil company has been creating pencils since 1832 and their expertise really shows in the quality of their brand.

Including 12 pencils ranging from 6B to 4H, this set is designed for creating finely detailed illustrations as well as adding shading and texture. The pencils are also easy to sharpen and break-resistant for long-term use, making this a truly excellent pick for both professionals and amateurs of all ages.

Fans of Moleskine notebooks will be pleased to see the iconic Italian brand has a beautiful range of drawing pencils, too. The tactile, rounded box with five stylishly and practically-designed pencils means you'll be proud to show these off whether at school, university or on your desk at home!

With attention to detail typical to Moleskine, these pencils are made using FSC-certified natural cedarwood and feature a square cross-section for "a naturally-inspiring grip". They're comfortable to hold, easy to sharpen and the silver tips look chic too.

A brilliant value package, this 2.0 mm mechanical pencil set by Nicpro includes no less than one metal lead holder pencil, 60 pre-sharpened lead refills (HB, 2H, 2B, 4B, 4H), an eraser and even a sharpener. 

Some mechanical pencils work better for writing than drawing, but this set was specially made with artists and designers in mind. Including a comfortable metal threaded anti-skidding grip, this mechanical pencil allows you to make marks cleanly in a variety of different pressures. 

Looking for a reliable and classic set of graphite pencils? Then look no further than the Graphite Line set by Caran d'Ache. Coming in a metal box, it contains 9B, 7B, 5B, 3B, HB, and 2H pencils – perfect for both fine lines and rich, dark shading.

As well as hobbyists, this set is suitable for pro artists and designers too as it offers the full range of hardnesses from firm to soft. The leads provide a consistent, smooth line quality and they're resistant to breakage too, which is always handy!

One of two Derwent options on our list, the brand is synonymous with creating art and is super accessible regardless of your skillset or experience at drawing. With their capacity to create different effects, we had to include their water-soluble sketching pencils.

Used dry, they are perfect for detailed drawing in the same way ordinary pencils would be, but if you add water you can also create 'watercolour' paintings with them. This set of 6 pencils include three shades (8B, 4B and HB) to create various tonal effects.

The Rembrandt sketching set by LYRA is slightly different from other products on our list in that in contains white pastel, sepia, sanguine, black pastel, charcoal and carbon pencils instead of the usual black shades and hardness types.

Inspired by the work of Rembrandt, who was a master of light and shade, these high-quality pencils will help you achieve a more classic, baroque look. The extra-strong leads create exceptional fluency and the earthy shades will really bring your drawings to life!

Whether it's the arty looking iron box or the professional, red-banded pencils, there's something about this sketching set by YSLON that will really make you feel like an artist! High quality wood and graphite ensures durability, meaning that this set will last you a long time. 

Suitable for beginners, students and professionals, this set of 12 pencils includes the full range of shades you'll need for your artwork. We love how it includes the soft, dark B pencils all the way up to 7B as well as HB, F, H and 2H for the perfect balance.

Great for beginners and experienced creatives alike, this sketch and drawing pencil set from Amazon Basics consists of 17 pieces that you will need for your artwork. Including a variety of pencils, sketch and charcoal sticks, sharpeners, and erasers.

This kit is ideal for those want to explore with a variety of different drawing tools to experiment with different fine lines, dimensions, shading and textures without breaking the bank. On the downside, if you want to carry this with you on the go, you will need to get a separate case or pouch to store everything.

Maybe you're not looking to make a big investment and you just want some easy go-to pencils for doodling at home, using at work or for your kids to take to school. Well, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better choice than Staedtler's Noris pencils, that's for sure!

As well as being extremely cheap and compact, these high-quality lead pencils are made with wood from sustainably-managed forests. The set of 5 includes a 2B, B, HB, H and a 2H, so while they're ideal for kids to use, the selection doesn't allow for very rich, dark shading.

For those who prefer using mechanical pencils, the Kuru Toga Self Sharpening Mechanical Pencil by uni-ball is, in our view, one of the best options out there. Not to mention that this well-priced pack of two mechanical pencils also includes five erasers and 24 leads.

The "Kuru Toga Engine" rotates the lead inside the pencil each time it is applied to a surface, keeping the tip sharp. This technology allows the pencil to create a very consistent line, though it has been said that the Kuru Toga is slightly better for writing than it is for drawing, and the lead is rather a light grey shade.