Drawing has become one of the most popular winter hobbies: it needs very little space, and you can start with a set that costs a few pounds. AliExpress helps here more than in most categories, because paints, markers and brushes are light, travel well and cost noticeably less than in art shops. We picked eight drawing and craft products with the most sales and a high share of positive reviews.
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How we chose
The main criterion for this selection is popularity. We looked at the number of sales and kept only products with at least 96% positive reviews. The cheap items here are no accident: it is inexpensive sets that people buy most often, and they are great for getting started. Professional paints with detailed pigment data sheets are a different story and deserve a separate article.
One practical tip before the list. Many AliExpress products combine several options in one listing: 12, 24 or 60 colours, different sizes, sets with and without paper. The price shown on the listing is usually for the simplest option, so before paying check that you have selected the configuration you want.
1. Acrylic paints in 5 ml tubes
The best-selling product in the selection. A set of 12, 18 or 24 colours in small 5 ml tubes, at £2.03. Acrylic is good for beginners because it dries fast, thins with water and sticks to almost anything: paper, canvas, wood, stone. Once dry, the paint is water-resistant, so people use it to decorate mugs, tote bags and crafts.
The 5 ml volume is very small. It is enough for trying things out and small pieces, but white and black run out first, so for regular painting it is better to buy those colours separately in a larger tube.
Price on 15 November: £2.03
Sold: 8666+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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2. Acrylic markers with brush tips
Markers filled with acrylic paint have become a hit thanks to painting on stones, wood and glass. Each marker here has a soft brush tip, and sets range from 12 to 60 colours. Compared with pots and brushes this is faster and cleaner: there is nothing to mix or wash, you just take off the cap. The price starts at £5.37.
These markers have one drawback: fine, smooth colour transitions are harder to achieve than with a brush. On the other hand, for lettering, bright illustrations and children’s crafts it is a very convenient format.
Price on 15 November: £5.37
Sold: 8143+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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3. Detail brush set
Eleven miniature brushes with a triangular handle that does not slip in the fingers or roll off the desk, at £2.89. The seller positions them for acrylic, oil and model painting, meaning fine detail work: an eye in a portrait, thin lines, miniatures and figurines. If you bought the acrylic paints from the first item, it makes sense to take these brushes along with them.
To make small brushes last longer, rinse them straight after working with acrylic. Dried acrylic paint is almost impossible to wash out of the bristles.
Price on 15 November: £2.89
Sold: 6527+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.3%
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4. Rainbow pencils
A cheap product that people buy by the thousand, most often for children or as a gift, at £1.72. A single 3.3 mm lead holds seven colours, so the line shimmers like a rainbow. Sets range from 12 to 48 pencils. They are no substitute for ordinary coloured pencils in serious drawing, but for colouring books, cards and games with children they are an excellent option.
Price on 15 November: £1.72
Sold: 6491+ pcs, positive reviews: 96.7%
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5. Pearlescent watercolours, 20 colours
A set of 20 colours in a metal tin, at £3.69. The seller describes it as watercolour with a shimmering pearlescent effect, with plain colours also included. Metallic and pearlescent shades look good on dark paper, in cards, lettering and planners. The tin is compact and easy to take with you.
Note that pearlescent watercolour only looks striking in the right light, and for classic landscapes ordinary artist watercolour is a better fit.
Price on 15 November: £3.69
Sold: 5362+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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6. UNI POSCA marker
The only well-known brand in the selection. POSCA markers have long been a standard among paint-based markers: people use them for graffiti, writing on posters, price tags and shop windows, and customising trainers. Here you can choose a single marker in white, black or red with different tip widths: the PC-1M is the thinnest, the PC-3M is medium, and the PC-5M is thicker. Replacement nibs are sold in the same listing. The price starts at £2.33.
A white POSCA is useful even if you draw with other materials: it is handy for adding highlights over acrylic, watercolour and markers.
Price on 15 November: £2.33
Sold: 4389+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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7. Ohuhu Honolulu B alcohol markers
The most expensive item in the selection, at £17.73, and the choice of anyone who wants to take sketching more seriously. Ohuhu sells them in its official store. These are dual-tip alcohol-based art markers suited to sketches, illustrations and manga. The manufacturer states that the markers are refillable.
Alcohol markers blend well and give an even fill without streaks, but they need thick, smooth paper: on thin office paper they bleed through and spread. Work in a well-ventilated room.
Price on 15 November: £17.73
Sold: 3153+ pcs, positive reviews: 96.7%
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8. Sketchbook with thick 160 gsm paper
A spiral-bound sketchbook in sizes from A5 to A3 with 160 gsm paper, at £3.65. For comparison, ordinary office paper weighs around 80 gsm, so the sheet here is twice as thick, warps less and holds markers and dry media better. For heavy watercolour washes, though, proper watercolour paper from 300 gsm is a better choice.
Price on 15 November: £3.65
Sold: 1824+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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What to buy if you are just starting
If you want to try painting, the best combination is a set of acrylic paints, detail brushes and a thick sketchbook. It is inexpensive and covers most of a beginner’s needs. For those who prefer graphics and quick sketches, it is better to start with acrylic markers and a single white POSCA for highlights. Ohuhu alcohol markers are worth buying once you are sure sketching is something you will stick with, and it is best to buy suitable paper at the same time.
One last thing: prices on AliExpress change often, especially ahead of big sales. If you do not need an item urgently, you can add it to your basket and watch the price until the next promotion.
