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  4. 10 Best Oil Pastels UK 2024 | Faber-Castell, Crayola and More
  • 10 Best Oil Pastels UK 2024 | Faber-Castell, Crayola and More 1
  • 10 Best Oil Pastels UK 2024 | Faber-Castell, Crayola and More 2
  • 10 Best Oil Pastels UK 2024 | Faber-Castell, Crayola and More 3
  • 10 Best Oil Pastels UK 2024 | Faber-Castell, Crayola and More 4
  • 10 Best Oil Pastels UK 2024 | Faber-Castell, Crayola and More 5

10 Best Oil Pastels UK 2024 | Faber-Castell, Crayola and More

Oil pastels are one of the most versatile artistic mediums, as they're easy to use but you can also learn techniques that allow you to create unique artworks and portraits. Whether you want to draw a simple bunch of flowers or produce something more elaborate like a sunset or natural landscape, pastels can be used to blend colours together on the canvas beautifully.


We've found some of the best oil pastels available to buy online on Amazon, from top brands like Faber-Castell, Crayola and Caran d'Ache. Our picks include high-quality options that are suitable for professionals and students as well as beginner-friendly options and sets that are perfect for kids. Take a look below and you'll be creating stunning pastel paintings in no time!

Last updated 27/03/2024
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Table of Contents

How to Choose Oil Pastels in the UK

Key Points to Consider
  1. Pick a Grade That Reflects Your Skill Level and Budget
  2. Think About Techniques and Decide Between Soft, Medium or Hard Pastels
  3. Look For a Set With at Least 36 Different Colours
1

Artist, Student or Hobbyist? Pick a Set of Oil Pastels With a Grade That Reflects Your Skill Level

Artist, Student or Hobbyist? Pick a Set of Oil Pastels With a Grade That Reflects Your Skill Level

Oil pastels can be categorised as either artist-grade, student-grade, or suitable for hobbyists. In layman's terms, artist-grade pastels are the best because they have the highest quality colour pigment and a better oil to wax ratio. Student-grade pastels are more affordable as they contain more wax than oil, but they still offer good coverage and high-quality colour.


Hobbyist pastels are those that aren't categorised as artist or student-grade, and are usually more budget-friendly. They have a firmer texture that is difficult to blend but easy to draw with, so they're typically aimed at beginners or children.

2

Experienced Artists Should Select Soft Pastels, While Beginners May Prefer Medium or Hard Pastels

Experienced Artists Should Select Soft Pastels, While Beginners May Prefer Medium or Hard Pastels

Oil pastels from different brands can vary in their firmness, depending on the ingredients used and the manufacturing process, but they can generally be defined as either hard, soft or medium. Some artists may prefer a specific shape or size of pastel, but the main thing you'll want to consider is their firmness.


Soft pastels are easier to blend, creating a creamy or buttery-like texture on a surface. In contrast, harder pastels are more similar to crayons in their consistency, allowing you to draw onto a canvas rather than spread and smear. 


Many beginners find using softer pastels difficult, but as you gain more experience you'll probably want to try out key techniques like layering and blending colours, which can't be achieved with harder pastels.

3

Look For a Set With at Least 36 Different Colours So That You Have Enough Shades to Experiment With

Look For a Set With at Least 36 Different Colours So That You Have Enough Shades to Experiment With

We've decided to share sets of pastels in our ranking rather than individual sticks, as we feel that they represent the best value for money. A set with a decent number of pastels means more options for colour blending and fueling your creativity.


If you have a small workspace then you may not want to have lots of sticks lying around, but those looking to experiment or who are new to the medium should look for a set with around 36-50 pastels; this will give you enough shades to start experimenting with!

Was the Buying Guide helpful?

10 Best Oil Pastels in the UK

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
1

Pentel Arts

Oil PastelsPHN4-50

Pentel Arts Oil Pastels 1

£6.82

Low

Student-Grade Oil Pastels That Are Incredible Value

2

Sennelier

Oil Pastel Set

Sennelier  Oil Pastel Set 1

£129.99

High Mid

A High-Quality Brand That Has Supplied Picasso

3

Caran d'Ache

Neopastel®

Caran d'Ache Neopastel® 1

£179.75

High

The Best Medium to Firm Option for Professional Artists

4

Crayola

Oil Pastels

Crayola Oil Pastels 1

£10.01

Low Mid

A Non-toxic Option for Younger Children

5

Holbein

Oil Pastels

Holbein Oil Pastels 1

£96.00

High Mid

Versatile Artist-Grade Pastels That Are a Joy to Use

6

Cray-Pas®

Expressionist Oil Pastels

Cray-Pas® Expressionist Oil Pastels 1

£23.30

Mid

The Ideal Set for Students Looking to Experiment

7

Mungyo Gallery

Soft Oil Pastels

Mungyo Gallery Soft Oil Pastels 1

£25.88

Mid

At the Higher End of the Student-Grade Spectrum

8

Faber-Castell

Oil Pastels

Faber-Castell Oil Pastels 1

£12.84

Low Mid

Firm Pastels for Those Who Struggle With the Medium

9

Paul Reubens

Oil Pastel Set

Paul Reubens Oil Pastel Set 1

£26.99

Mid

A Fun, Colourful Set for Casual Artists

10

Quazilli

Soft Oil Pastels Set

Quazilli Soft Oil Pastels Set 1

£13.99

Low Mid

48 Soft Pastels at a Bargain Price

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Pentel ArtsOil PastelsPHN4-50

Oil Pastels 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastels 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£6.82
Low
Reference price
£6.82
Low

Student-Grade Oil Pastels That Are Incredible Value

If you're looking for the best price to quality ratio, then these pastels are of incredible value. Aiming to provide affordable art supplies for students, Pentel Arts has been in business for over 70 years and no one does it better than they do!


For a set of cheaper pastels, the pigment is rich and produces a perfect texture on paper or canvas. They also blend and bind exceptionally well for something at a lower price point. Brilliant quality for under a tenner ― every artist should try these out!

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No.2

Sennelier Oil Pastel Set

Oil Pastel Set 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£129.99
High Mid
Reference price
£129.99
High Mid

A High-Quality Brand That Has Supplied Picasso

If you're serious about your art and money is no object, this oil pastel set is the one to buy. Many artists regard the Sennelier colour palette as being the highest marker of quality and the brand has even developed pastels for Pablo Picasso!


The higher oil to wax ratio has a unique texture that is smoother and creamier than other artist-grade pastels. While expensive at first glance, this set of 72 pastels is actually very fairly priced for what you receive.

No.3

Caran d'AcheNeopastel®

Neopastel® 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Neopastel® 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Neopastel® 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Neopastel® 4
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£179.75
High
Reference price
£179.75
High

The Best Medium to Firm Option for Professional Artists

When it comes to artist-grade oil pastels, the ones in this Caran d'Ache Neopastel® set are on the firmer end of the spectrum but still blend effortlessly. The pigment-rich sticks provide great, opaque coverage too.


These pastels are a little smaller than those from other brands and this, combined with their firmer nature, may mean they take some getting used to. On the plus side, their texture will allow you to layer colours and try new techniques with ease.

No.4

CrayolaOil Pastels

Oil Pastels 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastels 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastels 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastels 4
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£10.01
Low Mid
Reference price
£10.01
Low Mid

A Non-toxic Option for Younger Children

It may seem a little strange ranking Crayola oil pastels alongside those developed for Picasso, but we believe that it's important to encourage and nurture artistic expression from a young age. With this in mind, these pastels are an inexpensive option that's perfect for children.


Obviously, these won't be suitable for serious artists or most older students, but this set comes with a nice range of colours for little ones to play around with. They're also non-toxic and easy to clean off small hands!

No.5

HolbeinOil Pastels

Oil Pastels 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastels 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£96.00
High Mid
Reference price
£96.00
High Mid

Versatile Artist-Grade Pastels That Are a Joy to Use

Holbein pastels sit somewhere between the softer Sennelier pastels and firmer Caran d'Ache ones when it comes to artist-grade options, making them a wonderfully versatile purchase. However, being a Japanese import, they can be rather expensive to obtain.


The main selling point of these pastels is that they have a reputation in the art world for being a joy to use, so we think they're well worth the high price and longer shipping time. The variety of shades is superb too and will enable you to create all kinds of beautiful landscapes.

No.6

Cray-Pas®Expressionist Oil Pastels

Expressionist Oil Pastels 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Expressionist Oil Pastels 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Expressionist Oil Pastels 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£23.30
Mid
Reference price
£23.30
Mid

The Ideal Set for Students Looking to Experiment

If you're interested in working with oil pastels and want to try a good range of colours without having too many sticks littering your workspace, the Expressionist set by Cray-Pas® is a great place to start!


The pastels themselves provide moderate coverage, appearing quite opaque, and they can be used on a range of surfaces such as paper, cardboard, canvas or wood. Plus, they're totally non-toxic so are even suitable for very young artists in the making!

No.7

Mungyo GallerySoft Oil Pastels

Soft Oil Pastels 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Soft Oil Pastels 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Soft Oil Pastels 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Soft Oil Pastels 4
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£25.88
Mid
Reference price
£25.88
Mid

At the Higher End of the Student-Grade Spectrum

Mungyo Gallery's oil pastels are some of the highest quality student-grade sticks around. They're a handy choice for university or A-Level students who are serious about their materials but can't afford to break the bank.


These mimic the blending and pigment quality of artist-grade pastels so make for a good warm-up or trial option. Although they're not too expensive, we've placed them lower down our list because the Pentel Art ones are slightly better and cheaper.

No.8

Faber-CastellOil Pastels

Oil Pastels 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastels 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastels 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastels 4
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£12.84
Low Mid
Reference price
£12.84
Low Mid

Firm Pastels for Those Who Struggle With the Medium

One of the main difficulties you may encounter when using oil pastels for the first time is how the stick interacts with the surface. If you're used to pencils or paint, you'll find that it's very easy to smudge and accidentally ruin a piece when working with oil pastels.


As a result, these hard pastels are a great choice for beginners who want to avoid anything too soft and smudgy. However, this can be something of a double-edged sword as they're so difficult to blend!

No.9

Paul ReubensOil Pastel Set

Oil Pastel Set 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastel Set 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastel Set 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Oil Pastel Set 4
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£26.99
Mid
Reference price
£26.99
Mid

A Fun, Colourful Set for Casual Artists

The art world has a reputation for being snobby towards hobbyists but we think that everyone deserves to enjoy playing with pastels! This set from Paul Reubens is a terrific option for those looking to express their creativity but who aren't familiar with specific oil pastel techniques. 


Those serious about the medium probably won't have much interest in these pastels, but they make a great starting point and you get a huge range of colours ― including metallic ones!

No.10

QuazilliSoft Oil Pastels Set

Soft Oil Pastels Set 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Soft Oil Pastels Set 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Soft Oil Pastels Set 3
Source:amazon.co.uk
Soft Oil Pastels Set 4
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£13.99
Low Mid
Reference price
£13.99
Low Mid

48 Soft Pastels at a Bargain Price

If you're looking for quantity, this set of 48 pastels is excellent value for money. For under £15, you get a wide range of soft pastels that are ideal for learning how to layer and blend.


While we recommend this set for hobbyists and newbies to the world of pastels, there are better options out there for experienced pastel users wanting to take their art to the next level.

How to Use Oil Pastels

Interested in getting creative with oil pastels but not sure how to use them? Check out the YouTube video below to get started and learn some new techniques in just a few minutes!

Written and researched by David Sexton

Top 5 Oil Pastels

No. 1: Pentel ArtsOil PastelsPHN4-50

No. 2: Sennelier Oil Pastel Set

No. 3: Caran d'AcheNeopastel®

No. 4: CrayolaOil Pastels

No. 5: HolbeinOil Pastels

View Full Ranking
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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