Top 5 compared
The best art sets
Crayons and felt tips for little artists, or pencils and charcoal for learning to draw properly, all in one box.
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The top 5 at a glance
An art set is a box of drawing and colouring things sold together, so a beginner has everything to start with and somewhere to put it away afterwards. Children’s sets are about colour: crayons, washable felt tips, oil pastels and simple paints in a case that shuts. Sketching sets are for teens and adults learning to draw, with graphite in several grades, charcoal, watercolour pencils, blending stumps and paper to practise on.
Every set here comes with paper of some sort and a case or box to keep it in. The two children’s sets are marked for ages 4 and 5 and up; the sketching kits are for older hands, and one includes a small art knife among the sharpeners, so they stay out of small children’s reach.
What matters
- Count the pieces that draw: clips and rulers pad the number out.
- Washable felt tips for young children.
- Pencils marked with their grade or number, for following a tutorial.
- Toned paper, to show off white charcoal and metallic pencils.
#1Crayola Inspiration Art Case (140 pieces)
£10–£20
A carry case of 64 crayons, 40 washable felt tips and 20 short colouring pencils, with 15 large sheets of paper and a slot for every piece, so it all goes back where it came from. Crayola marks it for children aged five and up.
What owners say: Owners say children find it easy to pick out the colour they want from the trays, and that the case is sturdy enough to be carted from room to room.
A closer look: Fifteen sheets go quickly, so keep a pad or a stack of printer paper beside it. The trays make tidying up a quick game of matching each crayon and felt tip to its gap, and the handle means it can live on a shelf between sessions rather than spread across the table.
- A slot for every piece
- 40 washable felt tips
- 64 crayons
- 20 short colouring pencils
Best for: Young children drawing and colouring
- Pieces
- 140
- What’s in it
- Crayons, felt tips, pencils
- Made for
- Ages 5+
- Case
- Case with handle
- Paper
- 15 large sheets
#2HIFORNY 100-Piece Drawing and Sketching Set
£20–£30
A full sketching kit for adults: 63 pencils across graphite, charcoal, colour, watercolour, metallic and white charcoal, with blending stumps, a kneaded eraser and a sketchbook of white, tan and black pages to try them on.
What owners say: Owners find it handles quick sketches and fine detail equally well, and like how the case keeps every pencil in its own place.
Heads up: The kit includes a small art knife as well as the sharpeners, so keep it stored out of children’s reach.
A closer look: The tan and black pages are where the white charcoal and metallic pencils come into their own, so try those early on. For shading, work from the harder graphite grades to the softer ones, then use the stumps and sponge to soften charcoal before picking out highlights with the eraser pencil.
- White, tan and black pages
- White charcoal and metallic pencils
- Blending stumps and a sponge
- Kneaded and vinyl erasers
Best for: Adults sketching on toned paper
- Pieces
- 100
- What’s in it
- 63 pencils, 6 kinds
- Made for
- Adults
- Case
- Zip case
- Paper
- Sketchbook, colouring book
#3Derwent Academy Wooden Gift Box (35 pieces)
£10–£20
Thirty Derwent pencils in a wooden box with a lid: 12 colouring, 12 watercolour and 6 graphite sketching pencils, plus a brush, a drawing pad and a project sheet of first techniques. Derwent still makes pencils in Cumbria, at Workington.
What owners say: Owners rate the watercolour pencils in particular, and find the colours bright enough for beginners and practised hobbyists alike.
A closer look: Draw with the watercolour pencils, then run the damp brush over the lines to turn them into a soft wash; the project sheet shows how. Everything lies flat in the box, so it travels to a class or on holiday in one piece, and it suits a teenager or adult starting out more than a small child.
- 12 watercolour pencils, a brush
- Project sheet of first techniques
- Everything lies flat inside
- Derwent makes pencils in Cumbria
Best for: Teens and adults trying watercolour pencils
- Pieces
- 35
- What’s in it
- 30 pencils, 3 kinds
- Made for
- Teens and adults
- Case
- Wooden box
- Paper
- Drawing pad
#4KINSPORY 150-Piece Painting and Drawing Kit
£10–£20
Painting as well as drawing, for children: 12 watercolour cakes with two brushes and a palette sit alongside 48 oil pastels, 24 colouring pencils, 24 watercolour pens and 12 crayons, with a sketchbook and a colouring book.
What owners say: Owners like the pretty case and the sheer mix of crayons, pens and pencils, and find it keeps children happily busy.
A closer look: Lay down newspaper before the watercolours come out, and drip a little water on each cake a minute before painting so the colour lifts easily. Everything shuts away in the case, which makes it handy for a holiday bag or a rainy afternoon at someone else’s house.
- 12 watercolour cakes, 2 brushes
- 48 oil pastels
- 24 watercolour pens
- Paint palette included
Best for: Children who like to paint
- Pieces
- 150
- What’s in it
- Pencils, pastels, paints, pens
- Made for
- Ages 4+
- Case
- Carry case
- Paper
- Sketchbook, colouring book
#5KALOUR Sketching and Drawing Kit (76 pieces)
£20–£30
Built for learning to draw: 65 pencils in seven kinds, from graphite and charcoal to watercolour, metallic and pastel, with a drawing tutorial book, a sketchbook and a pad of watercolour paper, all in a zip-up nylon case.
What owners say: Owners say there’s nothing else to buy before starting, and enjoy the spread of shades across the coloured and watercolour sets.
Heads up: Charcoal and pastel cores are soft, so sharpen them gently and keep the case flat to stop the leads snapping.
A closer look: Each pencil is marked with its name and number, which makes following the tutorial book easier. Start with the graphite grades for line and shading, then try the watercolour pencils on the watercolour pad with a damp brush; the extender keeps short pencils going for longer.
- Drawing tutorial book
- Each pencil named and numbered
- Pencil extender included
- Blending stumps and eraser
Best for: Teaching yourself to draw
- Pieces
- 76
- What’s in it
- 65 pencils, 7 kinds
- Made for
- Beginner artists
- Case
- Zip nylon case
- Paper
- Sketchbook, watercolour pad
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Crayola Inspiration Art Case | #2HIFORNY 100-piece | #3Derwent Academy box | #4KINSPORY 150-piece | #5KALOUR 76-piece |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for sketching | Best budget | Most variety | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.3 |
| Price | £10–£20 | £20–£30 | £10–£20 | £10–£20 | £20–£30 |
| Pieces | 140 | 100 | 35 | 150 | 76 |
| What’s in it | Crayons, felt tips, pencils | 63 pencils, 6 kinds | 30 pencils, 3 kinds | Pencils, pastels, paints, pens | 65 pencils, 7 kinds |
| Made for | Ages 5+ | Adults | Teens and adults | Ages 4+ | Beginner artists |
| Case | Case with handle | Zip case | Wooden box | Carry case | Zip nylon case |
| Paper | 15 large sheets | Sketchbook, colouring book | Drawing pad | Sketchbook, colouring book | Sketchbook, watercolour pad |
| Best for | Young children drawing and colouring | Adults sketching on toned paper | Teens and adults trying watercolour pencils | Children who like to paint | Teaching yourself to draw |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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