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10 Best Acrylic Paints 2025 in the UK

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Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Liquitex Acrylic Basics Set of 60 x 22 ml Colours

Rating
9.8
Chosen by1,351
Color Quality
Drying Time
Color Quality
The paint color is stunningly deep and vibrant, perfect for creating nighttime skies or deep ocean scenes.
Drying Time
The paint dries quickly, which is ideal for layering without long wait times.

The Liquitex Acrylic Basics Set of 60 x 22 ml Colours is a versatile and economical choice for artists of all levels. This set boasts high-quality pigments, ensuring vibrant and true-to-color finishes. The variety of 60 colors provides a broad palette for creativity. Users will appreciate the fast-drying nature of these acrylics, making it convenient for layering and reducing downtime between painting sessions. Additionally, the semi-gloss finish offers a professional touch to artworks, suitable for various surfaces including canvas, wood, and ceramics.

While the consistency is generally smooth, some users might find it thinner than expected, requiring multiple layers for full opacity. Nonetheless, this can be adjusted with the use of mediums to achieve the desired texture and finish. The set's frustration-free packaging is a plus, making it easy to organize and store the paints.

Liquitex has balanced quality and economy, making this set a solid option for both beginners and experienced painters looking for reliable acrylics.

Rating
9.8
Chosen by1,351
Color Quality
Drying Time
Color Quality
The paint color is stunningly deep and vibrant, perfect for creating nighttime skies or deep ocean scenes.
Drying Time
The paint dries quickly, which is ideal for layering without long wait times.
#2

Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint, Set of 36 Colours, 36 x 22ml

Rating
9.6
Color Quality
Consistency
Drying Time
Color Quality
The colors are absolutely gorgeous, with deep, vibrant hues that mix perfectly with other acrylics.
Consistency
The paint flows well and has a good consistency, making it ideal for mixing and painting.
Drying Time
The quality is fabulous, with a quick drying time that helps with faster layering.

The Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint set includes 36 colors, each in a 22ml tube, and offers a comprehensive range for artists. One of its standout features is the quality of color. The pigments are artist-grade, lightfast, and monopigmented, ensuring vibrant and pure hues that stand the test of time without fading. This makes it particularly appealing for professional artists and hobbyists alike.

The consistency of the paint is medium viscosity, making it versatile for various techniques such as underpainting, sketching, and mixed media applications. This flexibility is a significant advantage for artists who like to experiment with different styles and techniques. The drying time is relatively quick, which can be both a strength and a weakness. While it allows for faster layering and less waiting time, it might be challenging for beginners who need more time to work with their paint.

The finish is silky and glossy, adding a professional look to completed pieces. However, this might not suit everyone, particularly those who prefer a matte finish. The opacity of the paints is generally good, providing solid coverage, although it can vary slightly between colors. For those looking to use these paints on a variety of surfaces, they perform well on wood and paper, making them versatile for different art projects. In terms of drawbacks, the 22ml tubes may be on the smaller side for those who paint frequently or work on large projects, potentially leading to more frequent repurchasing. Additionally, while the archival quality ensures the longevity of artworks, some users might find the high gloss finish limiting depending on their preferred aesthetic. This set is made in Europe, adhering to high-quality standards, which adds to its credibility and reliability.

Rating
9.6
Color Quality
Consistency
Drying Time
Color Quality
The colors are absolutely gorgeous, with deep, vibrant hues that mix perfectly with other acrylics.
Consistency
The paint flows well and has a good consistency, making it ideal for mixing and painting.
Drying Time
The quality is fabulous, with a quick drying time that helps with faster layering.
#3

Liquitex Acrylic Basics Set of 12 x 22 ml Colours

Rating
9.4
Color Quality
Consistency
Drying Time
Color Quality
The colors are absolutely gorgeous and vibrant, perfect for creating deep nighttime skies or oceans.
Consistency
The paint's consistency is ideal for mixing and painting, not too thick or watery.
Drying Time
Dries quickly, making it great for efficient layering and detailed work.

The Liquitex Acrylic Basics Set includes 12 tubes of acrylic paint with a variety of vibrant colors. Known for their historical expertise in acrylics, Liquitex offers a range that balances quality and economy, suitable for artists of all levels. The paint's color quality is enhanced by high-quality pigments that provide strong, bright, and fade-resistant hues. This ensures that artwork maintains its vibrancy over time.

The consistency of the paint is versatile, allowing it to adhere to numerous surfaces like canvas, wood, and paper, making it a great option for diverse artistic projects. It’s easy to manipulate, and its quick drying time allows for efficient layering and detailed work.

The finish of these paints is satin, providing a subtle sheen that is not too glossy, offering a professional look to the artwork. Opacity can be adjusted to suit different painting needs – whether you want a solid block of color or a more transparent wash, which is quite useful for creating depth and dimension. The 22ml size of the tubes might be limiting for large projects, but the set remains a solid choice for artists seeking reliable, vibrant, and versatile paints.

Rating
9.4
Color Quality
Consistency
Drying Time
Color Quality
The colors are absolutely gorgeous and vibrant, perfect for creating deep nighttime skies or oceans.
Consistency
The paint's consistency is ideal for mixing and painting, not too thick or watery.
Drying Time
Dries quickly, making it great for efficient layering and detailed work.

Buying Guide for the Best Acrylic Paints

Choosing the right acrylic paints can significantly impact your artwork. Acrylic paints are versatile, fast-drying, and can be used on various surfaces. When selecting acrylic paints, consider factors such as color quality, consistency, drying time, and the type of finish you desire. Understanding these key specifications will help you make an informed decision and ensure that your creative needs are met.
Color QualityColor quality refers to the vibrancy and richness of the paint. High-quality acrylic paints have a higher pigment concentration, resulting in more vivid and intense colors. This is important for achieving the desired effect in your artwork. If you are a beginner or working on practice pieces, student-grade paints with lower pigment concentration might be sufficient. For professional work, artist-grade paints with higher pigment concentration are recommended.
ConsistencyConsistency of acrylic paint can vary from thick and buttery to thin and fluid. Thick paints are ideal for impasto techniques and creating texture, while thinner paints are better for washes and detailed work. Consider your painting style and techniques when choosing the consistency. If you enjoy creating textured, bold strokes, opt for thicker paints. If you prefer smooth, detailed work, go for thinner paints.
Drying TimeAcrylic paints are known for their fast drying time, but this can vary between brands and formulations. Fast-drying paints allow for quicker layering and are ideal for artists who work quickly. Slower-drying paints provide more time for blending and mixing colors on the canvas. Think about your workflow and how much time you need to manipulate the paint before it dries. If you need more time for blending, choose slower-drying paints.
FinishAcrylic paints can have different finishes, such as matte, satin, or glossy. The finish affects the final appearance of your artwork. Matte finishes are non-reflective and give a more subdued look, while glossy finishes are shiny and vibrant. Satin finishes offer a balance between matte and glossy. Consider the effect you want to achieve in your artwork. If you want a bright, reflective surface, choose glossy paints. For a more muted look, opt for matte paints.
OpacityOpacity refers to how transparent or opaque the paint is. Opaque paints cover underlying layers completely, while transparent paints allow some of the underlying layers to show through. This is important for layering techniques and achieving depth in your artwork. If you want solid coverage, choose opaque paints. If you want to build up layers and create depth, transparent paints are a better choice.