Finding quality art supplies in Sri Lanka used to mean hunting through general stationery shops and hoping for the best. Today, several dedicated online and physical stores serve Sri Lankan artists with curated selections of professional materials. Whether you need watercolor paints, quality paper, or brushes, this guide covers where to find them.
Online shopping has transformed access to art materials across the island. No matter where you live – Colombo, Kandy, Galle, or a rural area – these stores deliver islandwide.
Website: watercolor.lk
Watercolor.lk is Sri Lanka’s only dedicated watercolor supply store. Unlike general art shops, every product is specifically curated for watercolor and water-based media artists. The store stocks international brands including Winsor and Newton Cotman watercolours, Baohong cotton papers, Potentate sketchbooks, and a range of natural hair and synthetic brushes.
Best for: Watercolor-specific supplies – paints (pans and tubes), watercolor paper (cotton and cellulose), brushes, water brush pens, spray bottles, water cups, and painting accessories.
Why choose it: Focused expertise means every product is tested and recommended for watercolor use. The accompanying blog provides detailed guides on choosing the right materials for your skill level and painting style. Islandwide delivery available.
Website: nehara.lk
Location: Negombo (physical showroom open for walk-in customers)
Nehara is widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s biggest dedicated art material shop. Based in Negombo with a large physical showroom, they also run a full online store with delivery across the entire island – including areas well outside Colombo. Their inventory covers virtually every art supply category imaginable: watercolour paints, acrylic paints, oil paints, drawing pencils, pastels, canvases, sketch pads, brushes, easels, palettes, and all the accessories in between.
Nehara stocks international brands including Winsor and Newton alongside a wide selection of budget-friendly alternatives, making them a one-stop destination whether you are a beginner setting up your first kit or a professional restocking your studio. Their product range spans all mediums and skill levels.
Best for: Artists looking for the widest possible product range under one roof at competitive prices. Whether you need a single tube of paint or need to kit out an entire studio, Nehara carries it. Their combination of a physical store you can visit in Negombo plus islandwide online delivery makes them accessible to artists anywhere in Sri Lanka.
Why choose it: Nehara is known for some of the most affordable art supply pricing in Sri Lanka. Their massive all-around inventory means you can get everything in one place – paints, paper, brushes, canvases, easels, and studio equipment – without shopping across multiple stores. Delivery outside Colombo is a major advantage for artists in other provinces who often struggle to find decent art supplies locally.
Website: artcart.lk
ArtCart is one of Sri Lanka’s most established online art supply retailers, stocking premium international brands across all mediums. Their catalogue includes Winsor and Newton (Cotman watercolours, Galeria acrylics, Winton oils, Artisan water-mixable oils), Liquitex (acrylics and spray paints), Lefranc Bourgeois (easels, ceramic paints, palettes), Mont Marte, Staedtler, Conte a Paris, and Reeves.
Best for: Multi-medium artists who work in watercolour, acrylic, oil, and drawing. Particularly strong for Winsor and Newton products (individual Cotman tubes available in a wide colour range), studio equipment (easels, mannequins, wooden palettes), and graphic art supplies (Promarkers, fineliners, pigment liners).
Why choose it: Authentic branded products sourced from authorised distributors. Payment options include cash on delivery (up to Rs. 50,000), Mintpay installments, and multiple online payment methods. Free delivery for orders above Rs. 7,500. Self-pickup available.
Website: stationery.lk
Stationery.lk is run by Best Paper Pvt Ltd from their Nugegoda location. While primarily a stationery supplier, they carry a growing range of art materials including professional watercolor paints, watercolor paint tubes, oil paints, acrylic paints, paint brushes, artistic papers, designer artistic markers, and artistic liners.
Best for: Artists who also need stationery and office supplies alongside their art materials. Good range of artistic papers and boards. Located at No. 21, Pepiliyana Road, Nugegoda – physical visits welcome.
Why choose it: Combines everyday stationery with art supplies, making it convenient for students and hobbyists who need both. Competitive pricing on paper products.
Website: ranasingheandsomapala.lk
Address: 86 Sir Ratnajothi Saravanamuttu Mawatha (Wolfendhal Street), Colombo 13
Phone: +94 11 244 8443 / +94 77 028 8445
Ranasinghe and Somapala is one of the most respected art material importers in Sri Lanka, with a long history of serving professional artists, art students, and government institutions. They are the exclusive Sri Lankan distributor for three major international brands:
Best for: Professional artists seeking premium Fabriano papers and Nevskaya Palitra paints that are not available elsewhere in Sri Lanka. Also supplies to government departments including the Ministry of Education, Elections Department, and Survey Department.
Why choose it: As the sole distributor for these brands, they offer prices and authenticity that cannot be matched by resellers. Worth the visit to their Colombo 13 store for serious artists investing in professional-grade materials.
Start with Watercolor.lk for a curated beginner setup. Their product range is specifically selected for watercolour use, so you avoid buying the wrong type of paper or brushes. Check the complete starter kit guide to know exactly what to order.
Nehara.lk and ArtCart.lk both serve multi-medium artists well. Nehara offers the widest product range at affordable prices with both a physical store and online delivery. ArtCart focuses on premium international brands with flexible payment options including Mintpay installments.
Visit Ranasinghe and Somapala in Colombo for Fabriano papers and Nevskaya Palitra professional paints. These are artist-grade materials not found in other local stores. Browse Watercolor.lk for professional-grade Baohong cotton papers and specialist brushes.
Nehara.lk is known for some of the most affordable art supply pricing in Sri Lanka, with a massive inventory covering all mediums. Stationery.lk also offers competitive pricing on paper products. For affordable watercolour sets, check the Sinours 14 Pan set on Watercolor.lk – it is one of the best value sets available locally.
Buy from authorised retailers. Counterfeit Winsor and Newton products, especially, circulate in some markets. Established stores like Nehara, ArtCart, and Ranasinghe and Somapala source from reputable distributors.
Most online stores deliver within 2-5 business days to Colombo and suburbs, with rural areas taking slightly longer. If you need supplies urgently, check which stores offer same-day or next-day delivery in your area.
Paper pads vary in sheet count and size. Compare the per-sheet cost rather than the pad price to find the best value. A pad with fewer sheets of better paper is often more cost-effective than a thick pad of low-quality paper.
Before investing in a new product, check reviews from other Sri Lankan artists. Our buying guides and product reviews cover materials we have personally tested in local conditions.
Sri Lanka’s art supply market has improved significantly in recent years. Five years ago, finding quality cotton watercolour paper or natural hair brushes locally was nearly impossible – artists had to rely on friends travelling abroad or expensive international shipping. Today, dedicated stores bring international brands directly to your door.
The key is knowing which store serves your specific needs. A watercolor painter has different requirements from an oil painter or a graphic artist. Use this guide to match your medium, budget, and location to the right supplier, and you will find everything you need without leaving Sri Lanka.
Yes. Multiple stores carry Winsor and Newton products. Nehara.lk stocks Winsor and Newton paints as part of their extensive inventory. ArtCart.lk offers individual Cotman watercolour tubes in a wide colour range. Watercolor.lk also carries Cotman 8ml tubes specifically for watercolourists. Ranasinghe and Somapala may carry them as well – contact them directly to check current stock.
Prices vary by product category. Nehara.lk is well known for fair pricing across their large inventory and is generally one of the most affordable options for all-around art supplies in Sri Lanka. For watercolour-specific items, Watercolor.lk offers good value due to their focused inventory. Stationery.lk is competitive on paper products, and ArtCart often runs promotions and offers Mintpay installments for larger purchases. Compare specific products across stores before deciding.
Yes. Watercolor.lk, Nehara.lk, ArtCart.lk, and Stationery.lk all offer islandwide delivery, including areas well outside Colombo. Nehara.lk in particular is known for reliable delivery to provinces beyond Colombo. Delivery charges and timeframes vary by location and order value. Most stores offer free delivery above a minimum order threshold.
Ranasinghe and Somapala (Colombo 13) are the sole authorised distributor for Fabriano paper in Sri Lanka. Visit their store at 86 Wolfendhal Street or contact them at +94 11 244 8443.
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