Buying for an artist can feel intimidating — they seem to have every pen and every colour already. But the truth is, artists are wonderfully easy to delight: they love good materials, thoughtful little tools, and anything that gives them permission to make more art.
Below is a gift guide built the way I would actually shop — grouped by budget so you can find something lovely at any price, whether you are buying for a beginner, a watercolourist or a junk-journal obsessive. Prices are shown in pounds and dollars as a rough guide.
A quick note: some links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever suggest supplies I genuinely rate.
Table of Contents
How to choose a gift an artist will actually love
The best art gifts do one of three things: replace a consumable they are always running out of, upgrade a tool they already use, or hand them a whole new thing to play with. When in doubt, quality beats quantity — one lovely brush or a single pot of really good paint means more than a big cheap set.
Gifts for artists under £15 / $20
- A really good fineliner set — the Sakura Pigma Micron fineliner set is my everyday favourite, around £12 / $15.
- A pack of quality watercolour paper — the upgrade every beginner feels instantly.
- A ceramic mixing palette — a small luxury that makes painting nicer every single time.
- A washi tape set for journalers and planner lovers.
Mid-range gifts artists adore (£15–40 / $20–50)
- A tin of artist-grade watercolours — the Daniel Smith Essentials set is the single biggest upgrade in results, around £28 / $34.
- A set of quality brushes that actually hold a point.
- A hardbound sketchbook with paper thick enough for wet media.
- A junk-journal starter bundle of papers, ephemera and glue.
Special gifts worth the splurge
- An iPad + Apple Pencil for the artist curious about going digital.
- A premium travel watercolour set for the painter who loves to work outdoors.
- A subscription to a membership or class — a year of new projects and inspiration.
Gifts for specific kinds of artists
- For watercolourists: good paper, a warm palette and a project book — see my watercolour tutorials.
- For junk journallers: ephemera, washi, a bone folder and a glue pen — my junk journal guide lists the essentials.
- For doodlers and beginners: a fineliner set, a dot-grid notebook and my simple doodle ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good gift for an artist who has everything?
Consumables and upgrades. A tin of artist-grade watercolours, a really good brush, or a subscription to a class gives even a well-stocked artist something new to enjoy.
What is a good cheap gift for an artist?
A quality fineliner set, a pad of good watercolour paper, or a ceramic mixing palette all land under £15 / $20 and are used constantly.
What do you get someone who likes junk journaling?
Ephemera packs, washi tape, a glue pen and a bone folder are always welcome — plus a beginner-friendly kit if they are just starting out.
What is the best gift for a beginner artist?
Quality over quantity: one good sketchbook, a small set of decent paints, and a beginner-friendly project book to build confidence.