At Art Shed, we’re a small family-run art supply business based in Melbourne, built by artists for artists and for anyone who’s ever thought, stuff it, I’ll give this a go. We’ve always focused on keeping art supplies approachable, helpful, and full of personality, with a brand that feels a little cheeky and a long way from your standard beige retail experience.

So… we didn’t exactly expect this.

Because we’ve just been awarded:

Best Online Art Supplies Retailer – Australia 2026
(APAC Insider Australian Enterprise Awards)

Best Art & Craft Store in the City of Kingston 2025
(Quality Business Awards)

There may have been a celebratory drink. Possibly two. No official statement.

What This Award Means to Art Shed

Being recognised like this feels pretty special, especially when you look at the kind of businesses we’re up against. We’re a family-owned, artist-run art supply store competing in a space dominated by much bigger retailers with bigger budgets, broader reach, and years of brand recognition already behind them. The polished giants. The names people already know.

Meanwhile, we’ve just been over here doing things the Art Shed way, building a store that feels fun, welcoming, helpful, and a whole lot less intimidating than the traditional art world can sometimes be.

So to be recognised on that level, alongside those bigger players, is a real pinch-me moment for our team, and something we’re incredibly proud of.

Why Art Shed Was Recognised

These awards are based on long-term performance, not a one-off campaign or a lucky spike. They look at how a business actually runs, day in and day out, across both online and in-store experiences.

For the Best Online Art Supplies Retailer – Australia 2026 award, that included:

- Customer experience across our online art store in Australia, making it easy to find, understand, and choose the right products

- Reliable operations and fulfilment, from accurate stock to fast dispatch and delivery

- Ongoing improvement, including website optimisation, content updates, and learning from real customer behaviour

- Community contribution, through education, blogs, classes, and showing up for artists beyond just selling products

And for the Best Art & Craft Store in the City of Kingston 2025,

it came down to consistent customer reviews, reputation, and the full experience across both our physical store and online shop.

Real feedback. Real customers.

And no… it’s not just our mum leaving five-star reviews.
She only left two.

A Word From Our Founder, Cindy

“This is a bit of a pinch-me moment. It’s recognition for years of work, late nights, and building something that doesn’t feel like your typical art store. We’ve always wanted Art Shed to feel more welcoming, more fun, and easier to walk into, whether you know what you’re doing or not. This really belongs to the team and the community that’s supported us along the way.”

She’s right. This kind of recognition is never just about one person. 

It’s built over years by a team of people showing up, working hard, solving problems, helping customers, and caring deeply about the experience they create every day.
 

From the warehouse to the shop floor, from customer service to content, from website updates to behind-the-scenes admin, Art Shed is what it is because of the people who keep it moving.

Thank You to Our Team and Community

To everyone who has supported us, thank you.

Whether you’ve shopped with us, visited the store, shared us with a friend, tagged us in your art, or even just had a browse, you’ve played a part in this.

To the teams behind the APAC Insider Australian Enterprise Awards and Quality Business Awards, thank you for recognising what we’ve built. It genuinely means a lot.

And if you want to read more about the award, you can check out the full feature: Here

We’re still the same team. Still packing your orders, still getting excited about new stock, still here to help.

Just with a couple of shiny titles we’re still getting used to saying out loud.

FAQs About Art Shed

What awards has Art Shed won?
Art Shed has been awarded Best Online Art Supplies Retailer – Australia 2026 (APAC Insider Australian Enterprise Awards) and Best Art & Craft Store in the City of Kingston 2025 (Quality Business Awards).

Is Art Shed an award-winning art store?
Yes. Art Shed has been recognised as an award-winning art store in Australia, receiving Best Online Art Supplies Retailer – Australia 2026 from the APAC Insider Australian Enterprise Awards and Best Art & Craft Store in the City of Kingston 2025 from the Quality Business Awards.

Where is Art Shed located?
We’re based in Melbourne (City of Kingston), with both an online store and physical retail store.

Does Art Shed ship Australia-wide?
Yes. We ship art supplies Australia-wide, wherever you are.

Is Art Shed good for beginners?
Very. No gatekeeping, no intimidating energy, just helpful advice and the right supplies to get started.

What kind of art supplies does Art Shed stock?
We stock a wide range of art supplies including paints, drawing materials, canvases, sculpting tools, and more, from beginner to professional level.

Does Art Shed offer art classes?
Yes. We run in-store art classes and workshops. Check the website for current sessions.

Why buy art supplies from Art Shed?
Art Shed is an artist-run art supply store with a team of real artists who know the products, understand the creative process, and genuinely care about helping customers find the right fit. With a carefully selected range, fast dispatch, and friendly service, we make buying art supplies feel easy, approachable, and a lot less overwhelming.