Deck the Halls Christmas Sale

Watercolour Sets and Gifts for Christmas

Watercolour is the gift that turns a quiet afternoon into something beautiful. Shop watercolour paint sets, half pans, tubes, palettes and pocket travel kits on sale for Christmas, from first-timer sets to the artist grade colours serious painters swoon over.

Buying for a beginner, a plein air painter or someone who fills sketchbooks on holiday? This is where you find the gift they will actually use.

Watercolour Sets Travel Kits Half Pans Tubes Palettes

Art Shed. Family owned, artist run and backed by 15,000+ five star reviews. Genuine brands, shipped fast Australia wide. Tap Read More for our gift guide.

*Up to 70% off selected products across the Deck the Halls sale. While stocks last, exclusions may apply.

 

The Art Shed Christmas watercolour sale covers watercolour paint sets, half pan and tube colours, palettes and travel kits from trusted brands, with Deck the Halls savings on selected lines and fast delivery Australia wide. Watercolour is one of the most giftable mediums there is. It is compact, beautiful to open and easy to start, yet it rewards a lifetime of practice.

How to Choose a Watercolour Gift

  • For beginners. A set of 12 to 24 half pans with a brush and a pad. Everything works together, so there is no guesswork on day one.
  • For travellers and sketchers. A pocket or travel set with a built-in palette and a water brush. It paints anywhere and slips into a handbag.
  • For serious painters. Artist grade tubes or a premium pan set. Artist quality watercolour carries more pigment, so colours stay brighter and mix cleaner.
  • Tubes or pans? Pans are neat and portable. Tubes suit big washes and larger paintings. Plenty of painters happily use both.

★ Art Shed Staff Tip

Watercolour lives or dies on the paper. If you are gifting a set, add a pad of proper 300gsm watercolour paper. It is the difference between crinkly frustration and "wait, I made that?"

Shop watercolour from brands including Mont Marte, Winsor & Newton, Art Spectrum, Van Gogh and Sakura Koi.

Why buy from Art Shed?

Family owned and artist run. Named Best Online Art Supplies Retailer Australia 2026 and backed by 15,000+ five star reviews. Genuine stock from authorised Australian suppliers, fast delivery Australia wide, and stores in Moorabbin and West End.

 

Questions About Watercolour

What is the best watercolour set for a beginner?

A 12 to 24 colour half pan set with a round brush and a pad of watercolour paper is the ideal start. Student sets from Mont Marte, Van Gogh or Sakura Koi are bright, forgiving and affordable, and leave plenty of room to upgrade to artist grade later.

What is the difference between student and artist grade watercolour?

Artist grade watercolour contains a higher concentration of pigment and more single pigment colours, so it is brighter, more lightfast and mixes more cleanly. Student grade uses less pigment and costs less, which makes it perfect for learning.

Is a watercolour travel set a good gift?

Yes. Travel sets are compact, include a built-in palette and often a water brush, and suit people who sketch outdoors, journal on holidays or paint on their lunch break. They are one of our most popular Christmas gifts.

What paper do I need for watercolour?

Use dedicated watercolour paper, ideally around 300gsm, which handles water without buckling. Cold pressed paper has a light texture that suits most styles, while hot pressed paper is smooth for fine detail.

Where can I buy watercolour paint in Australia?

Art Shed Online is a family owned, artist run Australian art supplies retailer that ships watercolour sets, tubes, pans and paper Australia wide, with stores in Moorabbin in Melbourne and West End in Brisbane. Everything is genuine stock from authorised Australian suppliers, never grey imports.