About Us - The Art Shop Skipton | Art & Craft Supplies Online

About us

Welcome to The Art Shop Skipton

Pablo Picasso once said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

Art has the ability to make reality seem even more real, and the unusual and fantastic seem ordinary. Art can act as therapy, channel expression and become an outlet for every feeling and emotion under the sun – that’s why we think art is for everybody.

Our shop in Skipton was founded in 1996, but selling art supplies has been in the family as far back as 1919.

This heritage of knowledge has been passed on through generations, with the ethos of exploration and discovery put at the heart of our business ever since.

Whether you’re a budding amateur, seasoned professional or getting back into the creative swing of things, you’ll find everything you’ll need from the likes of Winsor & Newton, Daler Rowney, Derwent, Pebeo, Sennelier, Unison, Bockingford, Loxley, Uni, Reeves, Artmaster, Hahnemuhle, Koh-I-Noor, Fila Lyra and many more premium brands.

We also stock a specially-curated collection of craft materials, so if you’re into collage, glazing, making furniture, working with fabrics or creating jewellery – we can help.

Selling art supplies online

Four years ago, we took the next step on our journey and began selling online for the first time.

We pride ourselves on being a space people can discover new techniques and new materials. All of our staff were chosen for their passion for creativity, so they can advise customers on making the right choices on everything from watercolour paper to oil paint.

Advice isn’t limited to physical visits either – look out for our individual staff recommendations around our website. We know people don’t want to wait around when inspiration strikes, so all of our orders are packaged up and sent in no time. Customers can even order items and collect them in store.

Learning is a huge part of our ethos.

We attend many events over the year to help promote and educate anyone who’s interested in getting involved with art.

Our partnerships with manufacturers like Pebeo, Derwent and Daler Rowney allow us to offer free workshops and demos, so we can teach people about new techniques and tools.

Find out more about our artistic staff below.

Meet the team

Naomi

An expert in art supplies, Naomi works as a sales assistant for the Art Shop Skipton.

She has a wealth of experience in retail and customer service, helping people find the right tools to explore their hobby or to discover a new one.

When she's not assisting budding artists, Naomi can be found exploring the great outdoors with Snoopy, her loyal spaniel.

Mark

The founder of The Art Shop Skipton, Mark comes from a long line of talented artists.

He used his artistic upbringing to curate a range of impeccable quality brands, proudly supplying the country with affordable paints, inks, pencils, pads and everything in between.

Mark's mission to make art as accessible as possible has built a brand that both experienced and brand new artists can trust.

Chloe

Chloe is a veteran of our company and hugely knowledgeable about art supplies.

A Skipton native, she keeps everything moving at The Art Shop Skipton, ensuring the warehouse runs smoothly and your precious orders arrive promptly.

When she's not flexing her organisational skills, you can find her exploring the great outdoors with her two children.

Amy

Swapping her native Lancashire for Yorkshire, Amy has been a part of our journey since 2015.

Educated in the intricate art of Scientific and Natural History Illustration, Amy is skilled at capturing the natural world using watercolour and gouache paint.

She's not just a talented painter and artist - Amy is a keen musician who plays the mandolin and tin whistle.

Al

As a former Art and Design student, Al has a true passion for the history and practice of art.

He's got a wealth of retail experience and loves to match a budding artist with their new favourite sketching pencil, drawing ink or watercolour brush.

When he's not helping customer, Al is keen illustrator, with his artwork featured in a range of children's books.

Lyndsey

Moving from Lancashire to beautiful Yorkshire over 20 years ago, Lyndsey looks after the accounting here at The Art Shop Skipton.

Alongside making sure everything adds up, she's a trustee of Yorkshire Cat Rescue, helping friendly felines across the county.

She adores crafts, crocheting and enjoying beautiful Skipton with her husband and son.

Lily

Lily is dedicated to making sure all of your orders arrive accurately and safely.

She's current studying for A-Levels, but when Lily doesn't have her head in a book, she can be found ensuring our stream of online orders is running smoothly.

You'll find her in the rolling hills of North and West Yorkshire with her faithful pet dog.

Jonny

Jonny is an integral part of the next generation of The Art Shop Skipton.

Proudly championing brands he knows and appreciates, Jonny has a vast knowledge and experience of curating an accessible and dependable range of art supplies.

Creativity is in his blood, which he also demonstrates with a keen passion for photography.

Sue

Sue has illustrated her passion for art by growing with The Art Shop Skipton since it was founded.

She enjoys crafts, is a keen card maker and loves expressing her creativity by sketching and illustrating.

When she's not helping orders find their new homes, you can find her sampling the culinary scene of cities around the world.

Alfie

Alfie diligently sorts, packs and monitors orders to make sure your valuable art supplies reach you safe and sound.

His attention to detail is vital when ensuring every order is packaged securely and the warehouse is kept running smoothly.

Alfie can also be found speeding through the streets of Skipton on a skateboard.

Jane

If someone know’s a thing or two about retail it’s Jane. With over three decades experience a large part of her working life has been dedicated to giving amazing customer service.

Jane's expertise doesn’t stop at retail though. Having a personal passion for watercolour, abstract and mixed media, her art knowledge surpasses expectation too!

This kind of know how make her perfect at helping customers in our Newmarket Street store and Jane is alway happy to help with a welcoming smile.