Paint brush sets

Paint brush sets give you several sizes and shapes at once, so you can start painting straight away without putting a collection together brush by brush. Here you will find sets for acrylic, watercolour and oil, as well as universal sets for all kinds of paint from brands such as Da Vinci, Daler Rowney, Princeton, Kreul and Rosa. Most sets contain 3 to 5 brushes, larger ones have 10 to 12 pieces, and for art clubs and studios there are also packs of 25 to 150 brushes. The sets include flat, round and fan brushes, often mixed in a single pack. You can find individual brushes among all our artist paint brushes.

Which paint brush sets suit acrylic, watercolour and oil?

• Acrylic: springy synthetic brushes made of taklon or nylon that hold their shape even in thick paint and wash out with water after painting.
• Watercolour: soft brushes that soak up plenty of water, such as synthetic squirrel, camel hair or pony hair, plus round brushes with a sharp point for fine lines.
• Oil: stiff hog bristle that carries thick paint and leaves visible brushstrokes on the canvas.

Universal sets such as Daler Rowney Simply are designed for all types of paint. They are a good choice while you are still working out which technique suits you.

How many brushes should a beginner's set have?

To start with, a set of 3 to 5 brushes in different sizes is all you need. Use a flat brush for backgrounds and larger areas and a round brush for lines and details. Sets with 10 to 12 pieces, such as the Rset range with 12 brushes, add more sizes and shapes, so you do not have to keep rinsing the same brush while you paint. For painting miniatures and figures, there are sets of very fine brushes from the Da Vinci Micro-Nova and Miniature Maestro ranges.

Synthetic or natural hair?

Most sets use synthetic hair: it is durable, easy to clean and works especially well with acrylics. Natural hair holds more water and paint, which is why painters choose it for watercolour and pick bristle brushes for oil. If you are looking for individual brushes by material, take a look at synthetic brushes or natural hair brushes.