10 Best Coloured Pencils UK 2024 | Faber-Castell, Derwent and More
Quick List - Top Coloured Pencils
ARTEZA
Student-Grade Water-Based Pencils as Good as Any Professional Set
Faber-Castell
High-Pigment Watercolours to Expand Your Artistic Creativity
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.
How to Choose Coloured Pencils in the UK
- Depending on the Type of Drawing, Select Between Oil, Wax, or Water-Soluble Cores
- Pick the Correct Pencil Grade for Your Experience Level and Drawing Needs
Choose Oil, Wax or Water-Soluble Cores Based on the Type of Drawing You Want to Do
Go For Wax-Based Pencils If You Want Something Soft and Easy to Blend
While the softness of the pencil core has many benefits to artists, this unfortunately makes them prone to breaking. Sudden impact such as dropping is likely to shatter the core and ruin the pencil.
These tie-dye kits can help you take your creativity even further.
Harder Oil-Based Cores Are Great for Fine Detailing Work
Oil-based coloured pencils are the least common type on the market as they are often only produced under premium Artist or Professional lines. This also puts them at a higher price point than most other coloured pencils.
Expand Your Creativity With Paint-Style Water-Based Pencils
Have you thought of making your very own bath bombs? These bath bomb kits are a foolproof way to do so!
Make Sure to Pick the Right Grade of Pencil for Your Experience Level and Drawing Needs
Affordable Student-Grade Coloured Pencils Are Best for Beginners
Since student-grade coloured pencils have a lower pigment to binder ratio, they are less vibrant than artist grade and you aren’t likely to find ones that are lightfast (resistant to fading in the light). Student-grade coloured pencils also tend to have a limited colour range of around 24 to 36 colours on average.
Select an Artist-Grade Set if You Want the Highest Quality Pigment
They tend to be studier in construction and are formulated to prolong the longevity of your artwork. Some artist grade coloured pencils are water resistant and many will have their lightfastness rating measured and documented so you don’t have to worry about your masterpiece fading from exposure to sunlight.
Want to make your own candles at home? Check out our favourite candle making kits.
10 Best Coloured Pencils in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ARTEZA Professional Watercolour Pencils | | Student-Grade Water-Based Pencils as Good as Any Professional Set | |
2 | Faber-Castell Polychromos Colour Pencils | | A Dependable Favourite for Artists and Students | |
3 | Derwent Studio Colouring Pencils | | Top Notch for Colour Building and a Great Gift Idea Too | |
4 | Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils | | High-Pigment Watercolours to Expand Your Artistic Creativity | |
5 | Staedtler 144 10NC24 Noris Club Aquarell Watercolour Pencils | | Sturdy, Good Quality Pencils for Kids to Use Wet or Dry | |
6 | Derwent Lightfast Colouring Pencils | | The Best Choice for Exhibition and Archival Works | |
7 | Sanford Wood Prismacolor Premier Coloured Pencils Portrait | | Artist Quality Pencils for Every Level of Expertise | |
8 | Faber-Castell Colour Grip Coloured Pencils | | The Best Watercolour Set for Back to School | |
9 | Caran D’Ache Pablo Coloured Pencils | | Exceptionally Strong and Ideal for Fine Detailing Work | |
10 | Sanford Wood Prismacolor Premier Coloured Pencils | | Entry-Level Artist-Grade Pencils With an Ultra-Soft Core |
Student-Grade Water-Based Pencils as Good as Any Professional Set
These pencils deliver artist-grade quality at a fraction of the price making them a solid option for all ages and skill levels. Unfortunately, Arteza doesn't sell individual pencils which may be an issue for those who intend to use this set regularly. However, the quality of these pencils means they won’t look out of place when used alongside artist brands such as Faber-Castell and Derwent!
A Dependable Favourite for Artists and Students
This set contains all 120 colours in the Polychromos range and individual coloured pencils can be purchased separately making it easy to replace worn out favourites. Faber-Castell art supplies are not cheap so we recommend buying this set as an investment rather than a starter kit.
Top Notch for Colour Building and a Great Gift Idea Too
High-Pigment Watercolours to Expand Your Artistic Creativity
The water-soluble core has a high pigment density that lays down colour boldly and smoothly. When wetted, the pigment flows like watercolour paint without becoming dulled or washed out. The pigment dissolves completely into the water, rather than just the surface layer, eliminating leftover marks or lines from drawing!
Staedtler 144 10NC24 Noris Club Aquarell Watercolour Pencils
Sturdy, Good Quality Pencils for Kids to Use Wet or Dry
Suitable for ages 3 and over, this set includes 24 brilliant non-toxic water-soluble colours that can be blended and mixed evenly. Staedtler even throws in a paintbrush making the Noris Club Aquarell watercolour pencil set convenient to pick up and take with you on trips and days out.
The Best Choice for Exhibition and Archival Works
Derwent’s first oil-based coloured pencil, the pigment can be used with a painting medium to create a painterly effect. On the softer side of oil-based pencils, they have a surprisingly creamy texture that lends well to layering and blending. Try mixing shades together to create new colours, further extending creative possibilities.
SanfordWood Prismacolor Premier Coloured Pencils Portrait
Artist Quality Pencils for Every Level of Expertise
These pencils contain Prismacolour’s signature super soft and creamy wax-based cores, which help immensely with blending. On the downside, for the number of colours you get, it has quite a high price point.
The Best Watercolour Set for Back to School
While these pencils may not be as pigmented as Faber-Castell’s artist lines, they are without a doubt of superior quality when compared to other student-grade coloured pencils on the market. Use wet or dry for endless possibilities!
Exceptionally Strong and Ideal for Fine Detailing Work
While they have the overall high colour density one expects from artist-grade pencils, the dry core means it may take a few layers to achieve a bold effect. Further, although crumbling is not an issue with these pencils they are prone to producing fallout, especially with darker shades.
SanfordWood Prismacolor Premier Coloured Pencils
Entry-Level Artist-Grade Pencils With an Ultra-Soft Core
Prismacolour pencils’ incredibly smooth and buttery core means they go on thick and blend with little resistance. However, this unfortunately also makes them very delicate and prone to shattering. With some reporting issues such as the core sliding out entirely, Prismacolour pencils have a somewhat mixed reputation that should be considered when making your choice.
Written and researched by Wren Mann
Top 5 Coloured Pencils
No. 1: ARTEZA ｜Professional Watercolour Pencils
No. 2: Faber-Castell｜Polychromos Colour Pencils
No. 3: Derwent ｜Studio Colouring Pencils
No. 4: Faber-Castell ｜Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils
No. 5: Staedtler ｜144 10NC24 Noris Club Aquarell Watercolour Pencils
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.