The Local Art Shop

Mark started with the idea back in 2002. As an artist himself, he realised good quality bespoke picture framing at affordable prices was a niche market, and this became his inspiration to begin framing. The beginnings of the business was to offer good quality, low priced picture framing to local artists, which was then developed as a business running from home. From a conversation with one of the faming suppliers he was put into contact with Loxley art supplies, which became the the true foundation of the local art supply business that we are today.

Local Art Shop is constantly developing, improving and expanding the range of products we offer; catering for both beginners and sourcing the unique high end products for professionals.

 We started trading in 2006, selling arts and crafts supplies nationally through online sales and at local markets and craft shows in Nottingham, Lincoln, Leicester, Grantham, Sheffield and Derby. This was helped by a loan from The Prince’s Trust. We soon learnt the best way to build our business was to offer discounted materials and art supplies to a larger audience, whilst still keeping our core values of quality, trust and honesty at the heart of the business.

In 2007 after building up a loyal client base of both amateur and professional artists and photographers, we were able to open our Nottingham shop in Gedling, on the site of the family shop which was ran as a newsagents from the late 1930’s to 1969, which gave a boost to the business due to the families commitment to the local community. In store we also offer a highly recommend bespoke framing service. We view this as a high quality personal service so only offer it in store. Mark has gained a reputation as being able to suit the right colours and mouldings to suit all pictures and as being so competitively priced on his framing has gained a lot of local support.

Local Art Shop pride ourselves on our second to none customer service and are dedicated to providing complete customer satisfaction. Our reputation is reflected by our exceptionally good feedback, which helps us to further expand and develop our customer focused business. We have become trusted suppliers to many local art groups, exhibitions and schools. We are pleased to offer a discount to any members of local art groups in Nottingham that come into our shop.

The wide choice of products we stock has led us, on more than one occasion, to supply to both the TV industry and government departments, as well as event companies, weddings etc.

Our goals have always remained true, to source quality products and sell them at the lowest possible prices.

When making an online order from us you can always be sure of our friendly personal service. We are exclusive to the UK and only offer UK postage to reinforce our local service. We aim to dispatch items quickly and accurately, we carefully select our packaging to ensure your items get to you safely. We have invested in a number of systems to be able to track from the order process through to the packing process, making errors almost a thing of the past.

Local Art Shop specialises in great quality and affordable Royal & Langnickel brushes. From sable, camel hair, hog hair, natural bristle and hake to nylon and taklon, we stock brushes suitable for everything from acrylic and watercolour to oil and gouache. Whether you’re after long handled, short handled or soft grip brushes or something more unique, like water filled brushes, we’re confident we will have what you need. Other brush brands include Pro Arte and Loxley.

We offer a wide selection of watercolours, acrylics, oils and gouache paints, ranging from great affordable starter sets including tubes of 12, 18 and 24 paints for beginners of all mediums, all the way up to the highest artists quality French Sennelier paints, sold as various sized individual tubes or as wooden gift sets, which themselves were designed and created for artist Pablo Picasso. All our Sennelier products have been received eminently well by our customers. Reviews on the Sennelier paints show they are of the highest artists quality and are worth every penny.

The choice of pastels and charcoals we offer range from compressed charcoals and assorted willow sticks, to soft coloured and oil pastels; available from universal students quality to the pigmented professional sets. From the buttery consistency of pastel sticks to the practicality of pastel pencils, our products from Caran D’Ache, Sennelier, Art Spectrum and Royal & Langnickel offer the best variety. Our specialist velour pastel papers beautifully accompany any pastel art work. Additional supplies including fixatives, shaping tools and primers are available to further enhance your drawing experience.

If papers, pads and canvases are what you are looking for, the great variety we stock range from value practice pads to our finest quality heavyweight up to 638gsm (300lb) paper. With Fabriano, Arches, Canson, Bockingford, Sennelier, Royal & Langickel, Daler Rowney and RK Burt all available to choose from. To suit your drawing, sketching, calligraphy, tracing, ink and illustration needs, we offer spiral bound, glued and block pads in both student and professional quality. Photographic and digital art papers are helping us to continually expand and improve our range of mixed media papers and pads to ensure we meet our customers’ requirements.

Our collection of field, table top and studio easels from brands including Loxley and Mabef, two of the most highly respected easel manufacturers, are sure to suit your needs, whether you favour aluminium or wooden easels and require them for working on or displaying your artwork. If you are after a Mabef easel we don’t stock, we will be happy to source and order it for you. Ideal as gifts, our filled mixed media box easel sets, acrylic, watercolour or oil sets won’t disappoint.

Local Art Shop have an ever expanding range of stationery, from Mitsubishi Pencil Company, Jakar, Faber-Castell and Manuscript, in addition to our great value non-branded products. Everything you’d expect including pens, pencils, erasers, mechanical pencils, mechanical sharpeners, compasses, rulers as well as more unusual drawing tools.

You will find many diverse accessories to assist with your work, whatever medium you specialise in.

We have great ties with many of the leading brands such as Loxley and Royal & Langnickel meaning we can offer the most competitive online prices.

In addition to our fantastic range of paints, brushes, drawing supplies, canvases and sketch pads, Local Art Shop also offer a superb gift range. From great quality candle making kits, soap making kits and various other unique craft kits by House of Crafts to children’s gifts.

If you do require any help choosing the right materials for yourself, your project or a gift, we will be happy to recommend the right product to you, even if we don’t sell them. We will try our best to source the product for you if this is possible.

Feel free to call us during opening hours on 0115 9401721

Don’t forget to follow us on our Facebook & Twitter as we regularly add exclusive discount codes and offers to our friends and followers; as well as any up and coming events.

Please message us about any subjects or tutorials you would like us to do a video on with a knowledgeable local artist for our YouTube Channel.

Keep an eye on our Blog for useful information, hints & tips!