Colouring pencils are often the first artistic medium that we’re introduced to as kids.
Alongside oil-based crayons, tactile drawing instruments which promote the improvement of motor skills, can be purchased cheaply, are relatively mess-free and last a long time naturally becoming an intrinsic part of early childhood activities.
Children who decide to stick with creating artwork and gradually improve their skills with age are often taught to ‘graduate’ from colouring pencils and move on to more complicated mediums such as oil paint, watercolour, acrylic and even gouache. This is because it’s typically assumed that more detail and depth can be achieved with high-quality and easy-to-layer professional paints.
We’re here to make the case that professional artists can create awe-inspiring work with coloured pencils alone. In fact, we’ll go so far as to argue that creating highly detailed, delicate and colourful artwork with colouring pencils is equally as impressive as achieving the same quality of art with any wet medium.
While colouring pencils can be blended by applying varying pressure and shading techniques, it’s incredibly time-consuming to use a thin-tipped pencil to create the kind of depth, highlights and shadows that can be easily identified in oil and acrylic paintings. As a result, some artists will use alcohol-based markers to prevent any shading gaps in finished portraits.
Other artists will spend months layering coloured pencils on top of one another to create mystifyingly photorealistic pieces.
While colouring pencils can be used to craft impressive high-realism artworks, using the same medium for less detailed, cartoon-like sketching lends a uniquely nostalgic feel to certain creations. This harks back to the idea that colouring pencils were the first tools we used as little artists.
Whether you’re looking to improve your artistic skills with professional-grade colouring pencils or are simply hoping to add more colour to your multimedia sketching collection, we’ve got you covered.
Keep scrolling for the best colouring pencils on the market.
Sanford Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils 150 kg, 150 Count
The most popular form of soft core coloured pencils among professionals and amateurs alike, Prismacolor Premier pencils are offered in an impressive range of highly blendable hues with thick, anti-snap tips. Crafted with high-quality, incredibly saturated pigment, each pencil blends smoothly thanks to the inherently creamy soft core texture which adheres to paper with ease.
Buy now £199.00, Amazon
Caran D'Ache Luminance 6901 Professional Colour Pencil Set of 100
This impressive range of lightfast, professional coloured pencils by Caran D'Ache have been formulated from pigments specifically chosen for their purity, intensity and resistance to UV. According to the brand, the lightfastness of these pencils is such that no visible colour change will occur after being exposed to the equivalent of 100 years of indoor museum lighting. Now that’s high quality.
The set also comes with a pencil blender and full blender to ensure smooth transitions between colours.
Buy now £285.00, Cass Art
Faber Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils Tin Of 36
Pastel pencils make working with a traditionally tricky medium easier than ever. This set of 36 lovely, professional-grade colours by Faber Castell is made with oil-free pastel leads which lend a certain ephemerality to dry medium artwork. They can be used to improve detailing on larger pieces or for colourful, whimsical practice sketches.
Buy now £49.95, Cass Art
Faber Castell Polychromos Wooden Case Pencil Set of 120
Beloved by professional artists for decades, Faber Castell Polychromos pencils offer supreme pigmentation and lightfastness, are entirely smudge-proof and water-resistant, and offer delightfully blendable colour. The thick yet soft oil pastel lead is break-resistant thanks to impressive SV bonding, and the luxurious wooden case keeps those precious tools safe and sound.
Artists who are constantly on the move might instead benefit from the discounted Polychromos pencil roll, which includes 34 colours.
Buy now £245.00, Cass Art
Derwent Lightfast Oil-based Colouring Pencils Tin of 24
For smooth and creamy colouring pencils that are half the price of those by Prismacolor and Faber Castell, look no further than Derwent’s Lightfast Oil-Based tin of 24. We’re big fans of the extra-large, creamy pencil tip and the range of lighter, pastel-hued colours available.
Buy now £71.60, London Graphic Centre
Derwent Chromaflow Pencils - Set of 72 - Set of 2 Blender Pens
Designed for highly saturated, technicolour artworks, Derwent’s Chromaflow range features soft oil cores for smooth and speedy colour laydown. They’re particularly brilliant for artists who prefer to use darker-toned, tan paper and are resistant to breakage. The set comes with blending pens to maximise the smooth consistency of these brilliant pencils.
Buy now £80.00, Art Discount
Castle Art Supplies 120 Colouring Pencils Set | Quality Soft Core Coloured Leads
A value-for-money soft-core colouring pencil option, Castle Art Supplies delivers quality at a fraction of the price. While the blendability, pigmentation and lightfastness of these pencils aren’t on the same level as other premium brands, they’re a great addition to any amateur artist’s kit for creating intricate pieces using a variety of mediums.
Buy now £57.99, Amazon
Tombow Irojiten Colour Pencil Set
Otherwise known as a colour dictionary or colour encyclopaedia, this wonderful set of high-quality, wax-based coloured pencils by Tombow is every rainbow lover’s dream. Each set of three pencils has a particular colour theme and story attached to it. Choose from ‘Rainforest’, ‘Woodlands’ or ‘Seascape’ and brighten up your daily written iterations in an instant.
Buy now £49.00, Cult Pens
