Specialist Crafts

New in at Specialist Crafts 🎨

We’ve added a fresh range of creative essentials for your studio and classroom:

Gouache paints: rich, opaque colour perfect for layering, illustration and bold mixed media work.

Wooden screen printing frames: available in A4, A3 and A2. Strong, reusable frames designed for printing on paper, fabric and more. Ideal for teaching printmaking or developing edition work.

Decorating slip: smooth, versatile ceramic slip for surface design, mark-making and experimentation on clay.

Tracing Paper Roll: a versatile essential for sketching, design development, pattern transfer and classroom use.

Built for artists, schools and workshops, these materials support everything from first experiments to more advanced techniques.

Available now online!

https://www.specialistcrafts.co.uk/new-in

Nothing means more to us than hearing how our products and support make a difference. ⭐

“I always value the service and products we receive from Dryad. The quality of the products are excellent, with a good range of materials to suit all budgets. I particularly love the customer service we have received in the past. Students have had questions about materials and equipment and your company have not only answered them, they have been prompt and even elaborated on the information. Thank you – I will always be recommending your company to our art trainee teachers as a result.”
— Julie Howard, University of Brighton

We’re proud to support educators, trainee teachers and students with quality art materials and expert advice whenever it’s needed. Thank you, Julie, for your kind words and continued recommendation.

🎨✨ We’re at The Eastern Education Show today!

Come and visit us at the East’s leading regional education event to discover innovative art supplies, explore creative teaching ideas and chat with our team about inspiring creativity in the classroom.

📍 Stop by our stand and say hello – we’d love to meet you!

🤝 Connect with fellow educators and discover the latest resources for your school.

📚 Spend more. Save more. 🎨

Getting ready for the new term means making your budget work harder without compromising on quality. Whether you’re restocking classroom essentials or planning ahead for the year, now’s the time to stock up and save.

✨ Spend £350 & save £50 with code: SAVE50
✨ Spend £600 & save £100 with code: SAVE100

One big order now means less time topping up later and more time focused on teaching.

| Specialist Crafts Specialist Crafts is a leading supplier of Art, Textiles and D&T resources to educational institutions, students and artists worldwide.

Here is one of our 2026 catalogue competition runners up:

Daria Nestyagina - Age 11
School: Repton Abu Dhab

Tag us in your posts for the chance to be featured on our page!

Art can do more than decorate a wall, it can spark change. 🌍🎨

Hampshire’s Climate Unity Project is showing how creativity and sustainability can work hand in hand, giving young people the chance to explore climate action through “artivism” projects in schools. From immersive installations to recycled wearable art and collaborative exhibitions, students are turning everyday waste into powerful messages about the environment.

The project proves that sustainability in the art room doesn’t have to mean huge gestures. Small creative choices, reusing materials, exploring natural media, and encouraging student voice, can have a lasting impact both inside and outside the classroom.

As Jayne Stillman explains, art projects like these don’t just teach creativity, they teach agency, empathy, and activism. 💚

How are you bringing sustainability into your art lessons?

Read now!

https://www.specialistcrafts.co.uk/blog/guest-blog-small-worlds-big-impact-how-art-teachers-can-lead-the-sustainability-charge.html

📘 Back to School Starts with the Right Sketchbook ✏️
20% Off Sketchbooks. The sketchbook range teachers trust, now even better value.

As the new term approaches, the right sketchbook sets the tone for how students develop, refine and record their ideas. From first marks to finished pieces, it’s an essential part of the process.

To help you get prepared, enjoy 20% off our full sketchbook range. With plenty of sizes, formats and paper types, you can match every class, project and budget with ease.

Shop now!

| Specialist Crafts Specialist Crafts is a leading supplier of Art, Textiles and D&T resources to educational institutions, students and artists worldwide.

Art Talk:
What is the difference between air-dry clay and ceramic clay?

Air-Dry Clay
Air-dry clay is a ready-to-use modelling material that hardens naturally when exposed to air, making it ideal for quick making and accessible sculpture work. It’s widely used in education because it allows ideas to be built, refined, and finished without specialist equipment.

Ceramic Clay
Ceramic clay is a natural earth material that only becomes permanent after firing in a kiln at high temperatures. Once fired, it becomes ceramic, a far more durable material used for pottery, sculpture, and functional objects.

So what’s the real difference?
They may look similar when you start, but they don’t belong to the same category of “finished” material. Air-dry clay is finished through drying, while ceramic clay is finished through firing, which completely changes its structure and strength.

🍽️ Step-by-Step Lesson Plan: Clay Pantry
Coiled Condiments with Character 🟤

Bring humour and creativity into the classroom with this hands-on clay project where students design their own coiled condiment jars — full of personality, texture, and form.

This step-by-step lesson plan guides learners through building, coiling, shaping, and refining their ceramic pieces, encouraging experimentation while developing core clay techniques.

Perfect for introducing structure in ceramics while still leaving room for individuality and fun outcomes.

Read now: https://www.specialistcrafts.co.uk/blog/step-by-step-lesson-plan-clay-pantry-coiled-condiments-with-character.html