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What equipment do I need to buy for a fine art degree? Your art supplies guide

Starting a Fine Art degree is exciting, but it also raises a practical question: what art supplies do I need to bring with me?

06 October 2026

Well firstly, the good news is that you don't need to arrive with a fully stocked studio. Instead, most Fine Art students build their collection of materials throughout their degree.

Requirements vary between universities and courses, and you’ll usually be sent a list of recommended materials closer to the start of your course. That means you may want to wait to receive an equipment from the course team before you rush out to buy everything in advance.

There are, however, some core materials that many students will find useful during their first year.

Start with the essentials

Drawing will be a fundamental part of any art degree, even if your interests move towards painting, sculpture, or even digital work.

A basic drawing kit may include:

A set of pencils, ranging from 2B to 8B
Sketchbooks
Graphite sticks
Putty and plastic erasers
A metal ruler
A craft knife and scissors

Putting together a painting toolkit

Many Fine Art degree students explore painting during their studies, often experimenting with different approaches.

A starter set of acrylic paints is a good place to start as they’re versatile, quick-drying and suitable for many techniques. You may also want to consider getting sets of oil and gouache paints.

Alongside the paints, you’ll need other painting supplies:

A selection of brushes, including artists and household brush sets, in varying sizes
A mixing palette
Water pots and cleaning materials

Building your toolkit over time

One of the most exciting aspects of studying a Fine Art course is that no two students develop in the same way.

As your interests become more focused, you can find yourself working with textiles, photography, printmaking, moving image, or perhaps another medium.

Simple item such as needle and thread might become an important part of one student's work, while another may invest more heavily in paints and drawing materials.

Rather than buying everything all at once at the beginning of your Fine Art degree, start with a core set of essentials and expand your toolkit as new projects and interests emerge.

You don't need to spend a fortune

There's often a misconception that studying Fine Art at university requires a huge upfront investment in materials.

In reality, many Fine Art students begin with affordable supplies and will only gradually add specialist materials once they're needed.

Your lecturers, who have years of experience in the creative industries, may be able to help you identify which materials are worth investing in, where more affordable alternatives will be suitable and what can wait until later in the course.

You are more important than your equipment

The most important thing you can bring to an art degree is yourself.

While some higher-quality materials may give you more options to experiment with different techniques, art isn't about having a particular brand of paint or an expensive set of brushes.

Your curiosity and willingness to explore ideas will take you much further than any individual piece of equipment ever could.

Remember, the equipment and materials are just tools. What matters most is how you use them to develop your artistic ideas.

More advice for fine art applicants

Want support with your UCAS personal statement, building a portfolio, exploring creative career opportunities, or anything else related to life at UCA? Come along to one of our upcoming Open Days for one-to-one advice from experts across the university.