10 Best Children's Art Easels UK 2023 | Melissa & Doug, Chad Valley and More

Melissa and Doug's magnetic art easel is very cleverly designed, as you would expect from this well-respected brand. The height of the two drawing board surfaces and both trays can be adjusted by 20 cm in total over three settings, as your child grows. 

The versatile easel has four different play surface options,  including a drywipe whiteboard, chalkboard, a magnetic surface (on the chalkboard) and space for a paper roll. We especially love that this sturdy easel folds flat for easy storage between art sessions - which we all know is a huge plus when it comes to play equipment!

This bargain easel from IKEA features an extra large chalkboard and drywipe whiteboard surfaces. The boards are positioned closer to the floor than most, making it ideal for very young artists (with close supervision of course).

The removable trays will hold plenty of art supplies, such as chalks and pens. This easel also scores highly because it folds flat when not in use, making it a practical playroom staple. 

Chad Valley is another reliable name in children's play equipment, and this easel lives up to our expectations. The drywipe whiteboard is magnetic and there is a chalkboard on the other side, with space for a paper roll on top. Best of all, the board can be easily pivoted, so that either surface can face the front.

Catering for older children who are starting school, the easel comes with 42 magnets, including capital letters, numbers and basic mathematical symbols. There's even a clock face with adjustable hands, making this a top choice for homeschoolers too!

Want to keep the paint and mess outside? Yes please! This garden easel is specifically designed to live outdoors and is capable of withstanding the elements as it's made from treated high-grade, fir tree wood. The large Perspex screen can be painted or drawn on, with dry wipe pens. 

Cleverly designed by garden play experts Big Game Hunters, there is no bar shelf, so toddlers can stand very close to the screen. Instead, there ledges in each corner to hold art supplies. The height of the easel screen is adjustable too, which is perfect for your growing artist.

This desk-style easel has three different areas for creative play. There's a chalkboard on the back, a drawing area with paper roll dispenser, and a two-storey Peppa Pig playhouse underneath. Better yet, the high-quality, boldly painted surfaces will withstand plenty of wiping down, according to reviewers.

We like that this easel has plenty of storage, featuring 3 handy cups and a car-shaped stationery holder. The playhouse shelves can even be used to hold art supplies. This easel will truly delight and inspire young Peppa Pig fans!

Plum's gorgeous outdoor easel has an outstanding 5-year anti-rot guarantee. It includes a mini growing station, to plant with scented herbs perhaps, and bamboo wind chimes for the full sensory experience when painting!

The FSC-approved, sustainably-sourced timber frame and shelf are surrounded an easy-clean Perspex screen. This means water-based paints and the (included) paintbrush pens can be washed away with ease, ready for the next artistic endeavour. In fact, the high price tag is the only reason it didn't make the top 5. 

With an understated look, this whiteboard and chalkboard will fit into any room of the house. The whiteboard side is magnetic, with four magnets are included. These can be used to hold a sheet of paper in place, ready for painting time.

It features a generously sized shelf to hold as many art supplies as your little artist needs. The easel handily comes with a chalk eraser. Although, some reviewers felt let down by the 'we think of everything' John Lewis claim, as no chalk or whiteboard pens are included.

This is a traditional plastic-free easel, which is very pleasing to the eye. So, if you need to put the easel in a room that isn't solely dedicated to the kids, this could be the one for you. The folding mechanism is locked in place by cute wooden pegs, but do be careful not to loose them.

As a one-sided easel, it's only suitable for one child to use at a time, which makes it feel quite expensive. There isn't a whiteboard either, so it could be less appealing to those children who like to 'play teacher' at home.

This brightly-coloured, painted-MDF easel has a chalkboard and a magnetic whiteboard, plus a paper roll for painting on. Ideal for a playroom or to brighten up a dull corner, this certainly isn't a design for a minimalist household!

The generous storage tray is adorned with Fisher Price's signature cute cartoon animals. Just be aware that although the age guidance says 3 +, and it includes letter and number magnets, we feel the overall look is more suited to younger children, meaning that this easel may be outgrown quite rapidly.

This huge easel will certainly suit large families with a big playroom or dedicated art space. Each side is designed to be used by two children standing side-by-side, making this a great option for social play.

There's a chalkboard on one side and a whiteboard on the other, with clips to slot sheets of paper into - which could also be used to display any paper-based artwork created. We adore the amount of storage available, but the eye-watering price tag does put this easel at the bottom of our top 10.