London has a long history of bringing remarkable art supplies to its creative community and it’s an industry that still thrives today. Whether you’re looking for cheap and cheerful acrylics or specialist pigments that require expert advice, you’ll never be far from help if you follow our guide to the best art shops around
Stuart R. Stevenson
Shop, Store
This specialist artist and gilding supplier was founded in 1980s on Clerkenwell Road. With over 60,000 items and a royal warrant it is a truly fascinating store that offer everything from basic materials for students to professional products for conservation and gilding purposes. It stocks all of the best names in the business, including Fabriano, Moleskin and Winsor and Newton.
Tiranti
Store
As a sculptural specialist this store offers everything you could possibly need for moulding, carving and casting. The company was founded in 1895 by Giovanni Tirani – a gold medallist woodcarver from Turin. Since its inception the company has also run an art bookshop and publishers, but returned to its roots after Giovanni’s death in the 1970s. Although the headquarters is now based in Berkshire it still maintains a flagship store on Warren Street.
Cass Art
Store
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Angel’s main thoroughfare, Cass Art offers an excellent array of supplies designed to suit every pocket. The three-floor establishment is Cass’s flagship, with other branches throughout the UK. The business has long-standing affiliations with institutions such as the National Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts, National Galleries Scotland and Sky Arts and regularly offers deals and competitions open to art students.
L.Cornelissen & Son
Museum, Store
This traditional store is moments from the British Museum and offers unparalleled access to pigments, oils, watercolours, gouache and egg tempera as well as any other kind of art supply you could wish for. It even goes so far as to offer specialist decorating equipment and leather accessories, to keep your supplies organised in style.
Wyvern Bindery
Shop
This Clerkenwell emporium is easily identifiable by the golden dragon that hangs above the shop front. It is known for a high level of craftsmanship and promises to deliver a perfectly refined object ‘Whether it’s repairing a battered dictionary, binding a handmade cookery book or creating a fine leather box or portfolio’. It is also a great place to source unusual end papers and custom paper stocks.
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Green & Stone
School, Shop, Store
A stone’s throw away from the Saatchi Gallery you can find this old-school shop that offer an unusual array of artist antiques, from easels, palettes and paintboxes to drawing instruments and unusual inkwells. Green & Stone was founded in 1927 and originally ran out of the Chenil Gallery, the directors of which were celebrated artists Augustus John and Bernard Shaw. It moved to its current King’s Road in 1934 and continues to offer everything an artist could wish for, alongside a successful framing business. It has also served a notable celebrity clientele including Helena Bonham Carter, Kylie Minogue and Ronnie Wood.
London Graphic Centre
This flagship store in Covent Garden is a favourite among artists, designers and architects alike. It stocks a fantastic amount of materials that stretches from specialist papers and sketchbooks to professional must-haves such as Pantone books and Rotring pens. It even offers heavy duty studio pieces such as airbrushing equipment, light boxes and plan chests, so there’s no excuse for not setting up your creative space in style.
Atlantis
Store
Referred to as the UK’s largest art materials store, this gargantuan supply hub has occupied several different mammoth spaces across east London since it was opened in 1979 by a group of entrepreneurial artists. It now resides moments from Old Street in an ample industrial space that allows for large-scale products such as stretches, canvases and reams of paper to be available on site. Its discount prices also make it a very popular destination among students and creatives on a tight budget.
