Greyfriars Art Shop

For a capital city with a large art school, Edinburgh has a sore lack of art supply shops. So this tiny store is one of your few options.
I am just so pooped out by this shop, it only really has the basics and I find their pen and paper stocks too limiting for my needs.
My main huge bug bare is the staff. They seem to have a broom up their asses and talk down to you. Aka I’m asking for something specific, I must know what I’m doing, please dear god don’t patronise me in your shop.
I end up walking to the art shop in the ECA as it’s cheaper, has more paper stock and a couple of the staff are super helpful.

Serviceable, small place but good for the basics. I didn’t need any help, but the man behind the till was perfectly friendly, answering questions but not bothering you if you’d rather be left alone. Prices are really not too bad considering the location. All I needed was a bound drawing pad which was about £6.

One of the best art supplies resources in Edinburgh. Unfortunately, that’s not really saying much.
They do have a large supply of paints, brushes, pencils, pastels, etc. they are not a great resource if you want anything off the beaten track and have tendency to be on the crafty side as a whole.
For those doing art projects and with a larger budget it should satisfy your needs.
Professionals will want to check it out but don’t rely on it. Keep your eye out for sales and take advantage of them!

I’m not an artistic person, at all. My limits are stick men and badly done still lifes. On occasion however, I get gripped by a need to be creative, and this is where I always seem to end up.
A fantastic little shop, full of all sorts of artsy and crafty things for the more serious atist. As such, being a bit of a once-​in-​a-​blue-​moon kind of artist, I often feel intimidated entering Grayfriars Art Shop — bad for me, but I’m sure for those of you who do this all the time, it will be fine.
There is so much stuff in this small shop, its a wonder it doesnt all just explode out of the windows. The staff always seem super friendly, and they definatly know thier stuff. They are all a bit expensive looking, and while I just tend to buy the cheapest set of pencils and pad i can find, I know that some of the stuff here must be very high quality — if the price tag is tobe believed.
I’m sure this place must be a God send for all artisits, and its pretty cool for us doodlers too.

I can’t draw or paint to save my life as a rule, although my stick men are second to none to be honest. This arty shop is not for the random doodler, and stocks a host of serious art stuff for the serious artist.
I don’t really have a clue what I was doing there then, as I am quite the opposite, but arts and crafts shops have always appealed to me quite a lot. Its a wee place, but make no mistake, it’s crammed to the rafters with pens, markers, paper, paints and brushes, and much more in between.
I was actually looking for a black marker pen because my boyfriend needed a football top signed, and the assistant could not have been more helpful. She picked one out for me and off I went, happy as larry. It did cost a wee bit more than I expected mind you, but this place is the real deal, so the stuff is a tad expensive, but I guess worth it for what you get.
For the discerning artiste. Folk like me should probably stick to Stationary Box.

When I decided to make my own chirstmas cards, I stopped by here for supplies. I found everything I was looking for (card, pens, glitter, sticky-​decorative type things) however I found this place to be a tad stressful as it was so small and busy. And a tad expensive too.

Only losing a star on price (which does on some tags seem like it’s been made up by a car salesman) the knowledge of the staff and the range of colours to rival household paint Dulux’s.
I’ve gone in to buy some Christmas presents for my more artier friends and really didn’t need to do much thinking; the rather ECA girl behind the counter asked simple questions, how much I had to spend and what medium my pals prefer to use, I answered «thirty pound» and «what? No idea»… When everything was unwrapped it was a frenzy of untacky gift boxes and loads of really unflattering paintings of my untidy flat.
It’s real artists’ stuff and everything has a genuine, professional feel about it and thankfully, not really that airy-​fairy. Just being moments away from Greyfriars church, it’s perfect for budding art college cool-​cats.

This shop has almost all art supplies you may need. They also have a student discount which is a pro. All the stock is very good quality and hence comes with a slightly higher price than you may find say in a supermarket. Keep your eyes peeled for notices for various art classes and art exhibitions.
They have a very big selection of these amazing Japanese marker pens, which I can never get enough. The shopkeeper is lovely and chatty, and if you can’t find anything, it’s best to ask, because the shops small size makes it quite crammed with stuff.
All in all, a great place to quench your artistic thirst for equipment, and with the student discount it makes it a bit more affordable.

My arty daughter usually gets gift vouchers for this shop and I love chumming her to spend them. It stocks real equipment for artists, but also stock kits that you could use with children. I sometimes pick up specialst paper here for card making. The staff are very good and know the stock. When my daughter was starting out they gave her some very good advice on what to buy. If you can’t spend your whole gift voucher they’ll just take off what you’ve spent, giving you more time to consider your purchases.

I used this shop as a student — it has all you could need and offers a student discount. Can be a bit crowded.

Visited this shop for some cardmaking supplies. Had a few bits & pieces but definitely more for the serious artist ergo it’s proximity to the Art College. Wish I was an artist, I’d have gone mad!!!

Situated right by Greyfriars church, the Art Shop is in a great location. Feeling distinctly student, the shop is designed to be more practical selling genuine tools of the trade and doesn’t accommodate as much for the casual artist. It’s a small and sometimes crowded shop but with a decent selection of goods considering. Prices however are quite high.
A good shop for artists with money to spend.