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Coloured Pencil Resources (UK): Materials, Paper and Practical Guides

Welcome. If you’re getting back into art after a break, you’re in the right place. Coloured pencil can be wonderfully calming, but it’s easy to feel rusty at first or unsure which supplies actually matter.

This hub brings together clear, practical UK-focused guides: pencil and paper choices, real-world tests, and straightforward tool help (including solvents, fixatives, and erasers).

The aim is simple: help you understand your materials, avoid wasted money, and get results you’ll feel proud of, without turning a relaxing hobby into a performance.

Browse the categories below to start where you are today.

Choosing Coloured Pencils (without wasting money)

Your Complete Guide to Selecting Coloured Pencil Brands

A simple, UK-friendly overview of pencil types and what to look for, plus an approach to testing pencils so you can choose with confidence.

Wax vs. Oil-Based Pencils: Which One is Right for You?

Learn how wax- and oil-based pencils behave (layering, blending, detail, and wax bloom) so you can pick what suits your style and patience level.

Other types of pencils

Watercolour Pencils: Start Here

Curious about watercolour pencils or wondering how they differ from coloured pencils? This hub pulls together the key basics, materials, and practical guides so you can decide if they’re right for you and get started without overwhelm.

Pastel Pencils: A Practical Introduction

A clear guide to what pastel pencils are, how they behave differently from coloured pencils, and which papers and basic tools help you get clean layers and soft blends without making a mess.

Types of Drawing Pencils: A Complete Guide (Graphite, Charcoal & Carbon)

A clear overview of the main drawing pencil types. How the H–B scale works, when mechanical pencils help, and what charcoal and carbon pencils do differently, so you can choose the right pencil for outlines, shading, and prep sketches (including under coloured pencil).

Choosing Paper & Surfaces for Coloured Pencils

How to Choose the Right Drawing Paper for Coloured Pencil Artwork

A practical guide to paper weight, texture, tooth, and surface types (including drafting film and sanded papers) — and how they affect results.

Testing Coloured Pencil Paper Suitability: An Artist's Review

See how eight surfaces perform in a real drawing test, with notes on layering, blending, and how forgiving each one feels.

Paper and Pencil Performance Tests: A Comparative Review

Standardised tests showing how three pencil brands interact with 15 papers — including layering, solvent response, and how easily you can lift colour.

Pastel Papers For Pastel and Coloured Pencils

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Pastel Paper for Artists

A practical guide to pastel paper for pastel pencils—what “tooth” and texture really mean, the main paper types (traditional, coated, sanded/velour), and hands-on test notes so you can choose a surface that layers well and feels enjoyable to use.


Tools and Techniques That Help (solvents, fixatives, blending, erasing)

A Guide to Coloured Pencil Solvents

What solvents do, when they help (and when they don’t), plus safe, sensible tips for choosing and using them in a home setup.

Understanding Fixative Sprays for Your Coloured Pencil Art

When fixative is useful, what it can and can’t protect, and best-practice application to avoid dulling or spotting.

Guide to Using Paper Blending Stumps & Tortillons

How to use them without grinding pigment into the paper — and when you’ll get a better blend by switching to light layering instead.

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing & Using an Eraser for Coloured Pencils

Which erasers work best for coloured pencil, how to lift colour cleanly, and how to fix small mistakes without damaging the surface.

Coloured Pencil Accessories: The Helpful Extras (and what you can skip)

A practical guide to the most useful coloured pencil accessories—sharpeners, blenders, burnishers, solvents, fixatives, storage, and more—so you can choose what genuinely helps your process without buying a pile of “must-haves.”

More Guides Coming Soon

We're always working to expand this section with more helpful content, including in-depth brand comparisons, useful external links, and downloadable PDF guides. Check back for updates, or subscribe to our newsletter below to be notified!

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