Easels & Studio(0)
The gear that holds everything else together. Our easels and studio range covers A-frame, H-frame, tabletop and portable easels, plus portfolios, kraft folios, carry sleeves, display books and storage to keep your materials in order and your finished work protected.
Finding the right easel
The easel you want depends on the size of your work, the space you've got and where you like to paint.
A-frame (lyre) easels fold flat, take up little floor space and handle small to medium canvases — the practical choice for a corner of a room rather than a dedicated studio.
H-frame easels are heavier, more stable and built for large or heavily worked canvases. If you paint with any force, or your canvases are big enough to shift a lighter frame, this is the one.
Tabletop easels sit on a desk or bench and suit small works, watercolour, drawing and anyone short on space or budget.
Portable and field easels fold down and travel. Made from lightweight timber or aluminium, they're for plein air painting, classes and working away from home. Box and French easels go further, storing your paints and brushes inside the easel itself.
Working upright on an easel does more than look the part. It keeps your work at a consistent angle so you're not distorting perspective by drawing on a flat surface, lets you step back and assess the whole piece, and is considerably kinder to your neck and back over a long session.
Protecting and carrying your work
A finished piece is only as safe as what you carry it in. Portfolios and kraft folios protect flat work in transit, which matters most for students moving between home, class and assessment. Carry sleeves suit larger canvases and boards. Display books hold a presentation-ready set of work in clear sleeves — the standard choice for a folio submission or a client meeting.
Studio storage
Good storage is the difference between working and hunting for a brush. Our range includes tool boxes, caddies, drawers and organisers sized for paints, brushes, pens and pencils, so your materials stay visible, accessible and in good condition between sessions.
FAQs
What size easel do I need? Check the maximum canvas height listed for each easel and make sure it comfortably exceeds your largest planned work. As a guide, tabletop easels suit work up to roughly 50cm, A-frames handle most medium canvases, and H-frames are made for large-format pieces.
What's the best easel for beginners? An A-frame or tabletop easel. Both are affordable, easy to set up and fold away, and will handle the canvas sizes most people start with. You can move up to an H-frame when your work outgrows them.
Are your easels suitable for painting outdoors? Yes — look for portable, field or French easels. They're lightweight, fold down for transport and are designed to stand on uneven ground. French and box easels also store your supplies inside, so it's one trip out the door.
How should I store finished artwork? Keep flat work in a portfolio or folio away from direct sunlight and damp. Interleave pastel, charcoal and graphite works with glassine or tissue to stop them smudging, and store canvases upright rather than stacked face to face.