Artyap6 Picks: Three Must-Visit Art Supply Shops in London

1. Jackson's Art Dalston

   

   
   
   
   
   

   Jackson’s Art is well known for their comprehensive and user-friendly online store. They stock a wide range of international brands, covering everything from paints and tools to papers — almost anything you could need — and they also offer student discounts. Their physical store in Dalston is equally worth a visit, letting you pick up everything in one go.

   The shop is spread across two floors. The entire ground floor is dedicated to painting surfaces, including stretcher bars, canvases, and boards, in a full range of sizes. This store is basically a lifesaver to deadline fighters who need to stretch canvases on a whim.

   The second floor is packed with paints and tools — oil paints, acrylics, printmaking supplies, pastels — you name it. While the physical store doesn’t carry as many varieties as the online shop, just the selection of oil brands alone is impressive--at least 8--including Jackson’s own brand, which offers great value. They also stock many Holbein products and Japanese Gansai!

   Overall, Jackson’s Art is a highly reliable one-stop shop. Whether you need to quickly restock materials or want to grab everything you need for a project in one visit, you won’t be disappointed.

2. AP Fitzpatrick Fine Art Materials

   
   
   

   

   
   
   

   Located in Bethnal Green, AP Fitzpatrick Fine Art Materials is truly a paradise for specialist material nerds. The shop is small, but as soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by a neatly arranged wall of powdered pigments on the right, along with professional materials like calcium carbonate, marble powder, wax beads, and animal glue. Their stock is incredibly comprehensive, especially products from Kremer — powdered pigments, color pastes, oil and acrylic mediums, and more — basically everything you could need in one place.

   Additionally, they’re a major supplier of Lascaux acrylic paints, offering a wide range of acrylics, mediums, and canvas sizes (including materials for stretching and priming canvases). The store even provides free fabric samples on request, letting artists test materials before starting a project. On top of that, they carry a selection of professional restoration materials, making it a great stop for both professional conservators and experimental artists alike.

3. Atlantis Art Materials

   
   
   

   

   

   

   Atlantis Art Materials claims to be one of the largest art supply stores in the UK. Located in the Bayford Street Industrial Centre, it operates in a warehouse-style space. The store offers a huge selection of painting and watercolor papers, including the largest single-sheet watercolour paper available in London.

   One of the store’s standout features is its wide variety of canvas types and weaves. There’s even a dedicated “sale” section selling linen off-cuts at roughly half the usual price — perfect for artists who love a treasure hunt! They also have a full rack of stretcher bars, with lengths up to 3 meters, ideal for creators with specific requirements for their painting supports.