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  3. 10 Best Children's Art Easels UK 2023 | Melissa & Doug, Chad Valley and More
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10 Best Children's Art Easels UK 2023 | Melissa & Doug, Chad Valley and More

Encouraging kids to be creative is so much easier when you have a dedicated art easel for them to work at. Having a surface, or two, ready and waiting at all times really encourages their inner artist to be let loose. Conveniently, most kids' easels incorporate storage space for art materials too, and some can even be used for displaying finished pieces.


Whether you're after a folding easel, a chalkboard, magnetic whiteboard or a children's art easel for painting outside, we've found the 10 best easels for young artists in the UK. Available to buy from Amazon, John Lewis, Argos and more, read on for our tips, reviews and advice!

Last updated 28/01/2023
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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Children's Art Easel in the UK

Key Points to Consider
  1. Plan for the Long-Term by Choosing a Height Adjustable Easel 
  2. Consider Which Art Medium Your Child Prefers
  3. Opt for a Folding or Outdoor Easel to Save Floorspace Inside
  4.  Look for an Easel With a Magnetic Surface

① Plan for the Long-Term by Choosing a Height Adjustable Easel

Plan for the Long-Term by Choosing a Height Adjustable Easel

Buying a children's easel can be quite an investment, so you should plan for it to last. Some easels are height adjustable, meaning that the board heights can be altered to accommodate your growing child. This may be in the form of a variety of peg holes, or a lockable sliding mechanism. Do check the small print, as heights can range from 20 - 30 cm, which will make a big difference if you have a tall-for-their-age child.


Do also consider the aesthetic of the easel. Whilst a primary-coloured or cartoon design will delight a toddler, such a bold design is likely to be outgrown by an image-conscious older child, especially once they have friends visiting! Plain wood is also much easier on the eye for you, the adult who has to walk past the easel in your home every day.


You'd best stock up on colouring books for when you are out and about.

② Consider Which Art Medium Your Child Prefers: Paper Dispensers Offer Unlimited Creativity, Whiteboards Can Be Wiped Clean

Consider Which Art Medium Your Child Prefers: Paper Dispensers Offer Unlimited Creativity, Whiteboards Can Be Wiped Clean
  • Traditional chalkboard: a surface which all children love to draw on, probably because chalks are so messy. For this reason, parents will need to think carefully about whether chalk is kept as an 'outside only' art medium!

  • Whiteboard surface: ideal for 'playing schools' at home. Plus, it encourages children to practise their fine motor skills as they learn to pincer-hold the whiteboard pens with precision. You do need to enforce a 'lids on when finished' rule, however, or you will be forever buying new whiteboard pens.

  • Paper dispenser: gives children a real sense of independence, as they can help themselves to paper whenever they want to. They can even use it to create enormous pieces of painted artwork, if they feel like it. Before buying an easel requiring a roll of paper, do check where you can obtain replacement rolls, as the dimensions and availability vary.

  • Perspex surface: is a clear, durable plastic screen, found on outdoor easels. It's weather resistant and washes well if used with water-based paints and paint pens. Children can also use it to collaboratively paint, one on each side of the easel, facing each other to create a joint design. Although, this set-up won't work as well if you have two very differently-minded mini artists at work!


Here are our top recommended for finger paints, to keep your little one amused.

③ Opt for a Folding or Outdoor Easel to Save Floorspace Inside

Opt for a Folding or Outdoor Easel to Save Floorspace Inside
Source:argos.co.uk


As with most children's play equipment, easels take up a lot of room. Although they are brilliant when in use, they can quickly become a tripping hazard if you're struggling for space. We recommend looking for an easel that folds up. These take up around the same amount of space as an ironing board, so it can be stored out of the way until needed again.


Alternatively, if you have the outside space, you can keep the easel, and the creative mess, entirely out of the house. To do this, you must choose an easel specifically designed for use outside, or else the layers of chipboard or cardboard inside the construction will soon start to rot. Garden easels tend to be made of treated wood, with a natural aesthetic, so will compliment any garden or yard.

④ Look for an Easel With a Magnetic Surface to Extend Learning Opportunities

Look for an Easel With a Magnetic Surface to Extend Learning Opportunities

Selecting an easel with a magnetic board can be a great way to extend your child's learning opportunities in the home. Some magnetic easels will also come with a selection of magnets. Our advice? If there are only uppercase letters, be sure to buy an extra set of lowercase letters too - their teacher will thank you for this!


For younger children, under the age of three, avoid small letter and number magnets, or put them away until they can be trusted not to try and chew everything in sight. This is because small parts are a choking hazard. In the meantime, there are plenty of larger, imaginary play magnets designed for toddlers.


Get prepared for school homework tasks with our best kid's desks.

10 Best Children's Art Easels 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. 
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Points
1

Melissa & Doug

Deluxe Magnetic Standing Art Easel and Chalkboard

Melissa & Doug  Deluxe Magnetic Standing Art Easel and Chalkboard 1枚目

A Foldable, Height Adjustable, Magnetic Easel to Grow With Your Child

2

IKEA

MÅLA Softwood Folding Easel

IKEA MÅLA Softwood Folding Easel  1枚目

A Large Easel Suitable for Toddlers

3

Chad Valley

Double Sided Wooden Easel

Chad Valley  Double Sided Wooden Easel 1枚目

Ideal for Older Children to Practice Time, Numbers and Letters

4

Big Game Hunters

Outdoor Easel With Perspex Screen

Big Game Hunters  Outdoor Easel With Perspex Screen 1枚目

Perspex Outdoor Easel for Making Art in the Garden

5

Peppa Pig

Play & Draw Wooden Easel

Peppa Pig  Play & Draw Wooden Easel 1枚目

A Fun Peppa Pig Playhouse and Art Easel in One

6

Plum

Discovery Create and Paint Easel

Plum Discovery Create and Paint Easel 1枚目

Gorgeous Outdoor Easel With a 5 Year Anti-Rot Guarantee

7

John Lewis & Partners

Wooden Chalkboard & Easel

John Lewis & Partners  Wooden Chalkboard & Easel 1枚目

Understated Double-Sided Kids Easel From John Lewis

8

Great Little Trading Co

Children's Wooden Easel

Great Little Trading Co Children's Wooden Easel 1枚目

Traditional Plastic-Free Folding Easel

9

Fisher Price

Brightly-Coloured Wooden Easel

Fisher Price  Brightly-Coloured Wooden Easel 1枚目

A Brightly-Coloured Easel With Magnets Included

10

Step2

Jumbo Art Easel

Step2  Jumbo Art Easel 1枚目

A Huge Easel With Plenty of Room for Art Supplies

Product details
Close
No.1

A Foldable, Height Adjustable, Magnetic Easel to Grow With Your Child

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!

No.2

IKEAMÅLA Softwood Folding Easel

£22.00

A Large Easel Suitable for Toddlers

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. 

No.3

Chad Valley Double Sided Wooden Easel

£24.00

Ideal for Older Children to Practice Time, Numbers and Letters

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!

No.4

Big Game Hunters Outdoor Easel With Perspex Screen

£86.99

Perspex Outdoor Easel for Making Art in the Garden

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.

No.5

Peppa Pig Play & Draw Wooden Easel

£57.49

A Fun Peppa Pig Playhouse and Art Easel in One

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!

No.6

PlumDiscovery Create and Paint Easel

£180.00

Gorgeous Outdoor Easel With a 5 Year Anti-Rot Guarantee

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. 

No.7

John Lewis & Partners Wooden Chalkboard & Easel

£40.00

Understated Double-Sided Kids Easel From John Lewis

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.

No.8

Great Little Trading CoChildren's Wooden Easel

£52.00

Traditional Plastic-Free Folding Easel

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.

No.9

Fisher Price Brightly-Coloured Wooden Easel

£80.00

A Brightly-Coloured Easel With Magnets Included

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.

No.10

Step2 Jumbo Art Easel

£193.72

A Huge Easel With Plenty of Room for Art Supplies

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.

Top 5 Children's Art Easels

No. 1Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magnetic Standing Art Easel and Chalkboard

No. 2IKEAMÅLA Softwood Folding Easel

No. 3Chad Valley Double Sided Wooden Easel

No. 4Big Game Hunters Outdoor Easel With Perspex Screen

No. 5Peppa Pig Play & Draw Wooden Easel

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