No matter your skill level when it comes to painting, taking the time to nurture your creative side is hugely rewarding. If you're looking to take your art to the next level, or perhaps your old set of paintbrushes are beginning to look past their best, it might be time to invest in a new brush set.
Whether you're a professional, hobbyist, beginner or student, in this article, we share our tips on finding the best brush sets for artists. From watercolours to oils, the cheap to the expensive, we've ranked the top 10 natural and synthetic paintbrush selections in the UK on Amazon and John Lewis to help you add to the canvas in a way that will complete your artistic vision!
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of brush sets for artists available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Artify | 2 ![]() Art Supply Central | 3 ![]() Rock Ninja | 4 ![]() Snow Cooler | 5 ![]() Mont Marte | 6 ![]() Daler Rowney | 7 ![]() Amazon Basics | 8 ![]() Kanoson | 9 ![]() Winsor & Newton | 10 ![]() TyrKuiy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Paint Brushes Art Set | 14 Piece Artist Brush Set | Paint Brush Set | Art Paint Brushes Set | Premium Brush Wallet Set | Gold Taklon Brush Zip Case | Detail Paint Brush Set | Children's Artist Paint Brushes Set | Watercolour Brushes | Watercolour Brushes Set |
Features | The Complete Set of 36 Brushes With an Ergonomic Design That Every Artist Should Own | 14 Beautiful Hand-Crafted Brushes in a Lovely Case From a UK-Based Company | A Stylish Set of Hard-Wearing, Waterproof Brushes With Tight Metal Ferrules | A Set of Artists Brushes Complete With a Sponge, Palette Knife and a Tidy Case | A Huge Selection of Brushes Available With Both Natural or Synthetic Heads | 10 Brushes in a Range of Shapes and Sizes Complete With a Zip-up Case | A Basic Set of Brushes With Ultra-Fine Tips for Achieving a Precise Level of Detail | Artists Brushes Specifically Designed for Kids With Light but Hard-Wearing Plastic Handles | A Great Set of 5 Affordable Brushes for Creating a Watercolour Masterpiece | Flat Brushes With High-Quality Bristles for Creating Masterpieces With Watercolour Paints |
Price | £32.99 | £29.95 | £17.99 | £19.99 | £28.99 | £9.90 | £7.78 | £4.29 | £5.59 | £18.99 |
No. of Brushes | 38 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
Head Shape(s) | Pointed, flat, round | Point, flat, round, fan, filbert | Point, flat, round, fan, filbert | Pointed, flat, fan, filbert | Pointed, flat, diagonal, rectangular | Flat, pointed, diagonal, fan | Pointed | Flat, pointed, round, rectangular | Flat, pointed | Round |
Handles | Wood | Plastic | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | Plastic | Wood | - |
Bristles | Natural and synthetic | Synthetic and natural | Synthetic | Synthetic | Synthetic and natural | Synthetic | Nylon | Synthetic | Synthetic | Animal hair |
Suitable For | Acrylic, oil, watercolour & gouache | Watercolours, acrylic & oil painting | Acrylic, oil, watercolour & gouache | Acrylic | Watercolour, acrylic, oil, Gouache & tempera | Oil, waterproof, acrylic | Line, drawing, acrylic & watercolour | Acrylic, watercolour, oil, gouache & craft | Watercolour | Watercolours |
Case | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
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To stop the need for constant washing up and replacing of brushes, find a set that comes with a large selection. This means you'll have more clean options ready to go and is especially good if multiple people are using the set. Sets with 10 or more brushes are a great place to start, although you can find some as large as 60 pieces or more.
As the saying goes, you can't paint everything with the same brush. To stay in control while painting, you want to be able to reach for a paintbrush that is precisely the right size and shape for what you need. For example, a small, pointed head is great for adding details, whereas a large rounded or rectangular head will allow for more canvas coverage to fill large gaps.
Check that a set has the brushes you think you'll need the most. Not every brush in every set will be different, and some will have multiple brushes with heads of the same shape. Be aware that some less complicated sets, such as those designed for children, will generally have less choice.
Tend to work in a sketchbook before hitting the canvas? Take a look at our list of the best ones to buy in the UK!
Wood is by far the most commonly used material for paintbrush handles. It not only looks lovely but feels good to hold. However, these will degrade quicker, and you may find that the paint or varnish begins to chip away over time.
Some paintbrush handles are made from plastic, especially those created for children. Plastic is a lighter material than wood, making them easy to hold. But, unfortunately, a plastic handle often signifies a lower quality brush.
Traditionally, paintbrushes were always made using natural hair from animals like hogs, horses and badgers. These days, it's far more common to see bristles made from synthetic materials like nylon or polyester, but natural brushes haven't disappeared completely.
Natural bristles work well with oil-based alkyd paints as they are stiffer. On the other hand, soft synthetic bristles are better for water-based latex paint, including acrylics, watercolours and gouache. This being said, there is a lot of crossover, and plenty of synthetic brushes are just as suitable for use with oil paints. So if you want to avoid animal products, you can!
Need a new set of watercolour paints?
Set will often come with a case to make it easier to store your brushes and keep track of them all. These cases provide slots for each brush, keeping them separate and meaning you'll be ready to go the next time you feel compelled to the canvas.
Look to see whether the case has a roll or zip-up design. Rolls lay out flat, clearly displaying all of the brushes, and can be tied together into a log shape for easy storage and transportation. Zip cases fold open like a book and are made using a harder outer material to keep your brushes better protected against knocks.
mybest UK product recommendations are reviewed and curated by our writers in-house. We focus on in-depth research and analysis of product reviews to carefully select the best products available for the best prices.
£32.99
No. of Brushes | 38 |
---|---|
Head Shape(s) | Pointed, flat, round |
Handles | Wood |
Bristles | Natural and synthetic |
Suitable For | Acrylic, oil, watercolour & gouache |
Case | Yes |
£29.95
No. of Brushes | 14 |
---|---|
Head Shape(s) | Point, flat, round, fan, filbert |
Handles | Plastic |
Bristles | Synthetic and natural |
Suitable For | Watercolours, acrylic & oil painting |
Case | Yes |
£17.99
Number of Brushes | 17 |
---|---|
Head Shape | Point, flat, round, fan, filbert |
Handle Material | Wood |
Bristle Type | Synthetic |
Suitable For | Acrylic, oil, watercolour & gouache |
Case | Yes |
£19.99
No. of Brushes | 15 |
---|---|
Head Shape(s) | Pointed, flat, fan, filbert |
Handles | Wood |
Bristles | Synthetic |
Suitable For | Acrylic |
Case | Yes |
£28.99
No. of Brushes | 15 |
---|---|
Head Shape(s) | Pointed, flat, diagonal, rectangular |
Handles | Wood |
Bristles | Synthetic and natural |
Suitable For | Watercolour, acrylic, oil, Gouache & tempera |
Case | Yes |
£9.90
No. of Brushes | 10 |
---|---|
Head Shape(s) | Flat, pointed, diagonal, fan |
Handles | Wood |
Bristles | Synthetic |
Suitable For | Oil, waterproof, acrylic |
Case | Yes |
£7.78
No. of Brushes | 7 |
---|---|
Head Shape(s) | Pointed |
Handles | Wood |
Bristles | Nylon |
Suitable For | Line, drawing, acrylic & watercolour |
Case | No |
£4.29
No. of Brushes | 9 |
---|---|
Head Shape(s) | Flat, pointed, round, rectangular |
Handles | Plastic |
Bristles | Synthetic |
Suitable For | Acrylic, watercolour, oil, gouache & craft |
Case | No |
£5.59
No. of Brushes | 5 |
---|---|
Head Shape(s) | Flat, pointed |
Handles | Wood |
Bristles | Synthetic |
Suitable For | Watercolour |
Case | No |
£18.99
Number of Brushes | 6 |
---|---|
Head Shape | Round |
Handle Material | - |
Bristle Type | Animal hair |
Suitable For | Watercolours |
Case | No |
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