By now you might know that I enjoy adult colouring as a hobby. Really enjoy adult colouring as a hobby. I find it so relaxing as well as letting me be creative. After one of my closest friends suffered a bereavement I wanted to get her some self care gifts, and alongside a candle, face masks, chocolate and other cosy items I wanted to get her some colouring items. I did try Home Bargains first for their £7.99 dual tip markers, but they weren’t in stock. Since I wanted to pick up a specific colouring book from The Range I decided to have a look at their selection of markers. I found their Art Studio dual tip art marker set for just £3.99 for 12 markers. If you’re wondering whether the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens from The Range are worth it, here’s my honest review.
Unfortunately it is hard to find reviews of the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens, so that’s where I come in to help you decide whether to buy them or not. If you’re reading this whilst you are in the store and trying to decide quickly then my answer is hold off for now.
Here’s the quick take:
- Price: £3.99 for 12 dual-tip alcohol markers – 11 colours and one blending pen.
- Are they worth it? Maybe – a very basic set of colours that could work well for beginners, but there are much better markers out there offering better value for money.
- Pros: Cheap to pick up and test out alcohol markers before buying more expensive ones. Relatively easy to find in store.
- Downsides: Limited colours, better options out there.
How much are the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens?
The Art Studio dual tip art marker pens from The Range are £3.99 and you get 12 markers in the pack for that.
This makes them just shy of 48p each per marker, compared to 10p per marker from Home Bargains.
48p per marker isn’t a budget price (and you can get the ‘best’ branded Ohuhu markers for around 67p each) but what does make their price awesome if that you only have to spend £3.99 to test out alcohol markers before making a purchase at a higher cost.
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My first impressions
As I’ve mentioned, these weren’t my first choice as a gift for my friend, but I needed to get my hands on something that day so I didn’t have time to shop online.
The packaging mentioned that they were alcohol markers, which is what I was looking for and it was great that this was clearly mentioned on the packaging.
They come in a plastic carry case with clips to keep the lid on, and a carrying handle. Once opened the case is very flimsy and the lid popped off straight away.
Inside there is no base for the markers to slot into, so they don’t look neat inside the case.
The price sticker on the set for my friend was really hard to remove, so if you are gifting these it is worth bearing that in mind.
The markers were not in any order when I first bought them, and in order to swatch them I took a few minutes to arrange them numerically and then alphabetically for the grey colours.
I really liked that they are dual tip.
You have the fine tip one side and then a broad chisel tip the other. If you don’t know what a broad chisel tip is, think about a highlighter – it is that sort of tip.
Are the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens alcohol-based or water-based?
The Art Studio dual tip art marker pens are alcohol based marker pens.
Are alcohol markers or water markers better?
Many people consider alcohol markers to be ‘better’ than water-based markers (and I agree with them!).
That’s because water-based markers can be streaky and give you an uneven finish when colouring.
In comparison, alcohol markers give a much smoother and even finish when you are colouring in.
Water-based markers can take awhile to dry, and they don’t blend well. Whereas alcohol markers dry quickly and they tend to blend well.
Alcohol markers also interact with colouring pages differently, and in my opinion, better than water-based markers.
Do the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens bleed through the page?
Are you wondering if the markers from The Range bleed through the page?
The answer is yes, because these are alcohol based markers, they will bleed through pages.
To help to mitigate this you can place a piece of paper or cardstock under the picture you are colouring in, and choose colouring books that don’t have a picture on the other side. If your colouring book has pictures on both sides of a page you will have to decide which one to colour in and which one to sacrifice.
Colour selection
With only 12 marker pens included in the set it would never offer the best colour range out there.
The colours included in this set are:
- 0 Colourless Blender
- 12 Coral Red
- 35 Lemon Yellow
- 53 Turquoise Green
- 55 Emerald Green
- 67 Pastel Blue
- 70 Royal Blue
- 87 Azalea Purple
- 92 Chocolate
- 97 Rose Beige
- 120 Black
- CG5 Cool Grey
I was really disappointed in the variety of colours.
I wasn’t expecting to find a wide range of skin tones but to not even have a pink in there, but two blue and two green shades?
Colouring with the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens
Now of course it is time to actually test out the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens from The Range.
The first thing I did was create the swatch sheet which you can download below for free.
I hate to admit it, because I am not a fan of the colour selection, but they workeed really well on the swatch sheet. The way the ink hit the paper then started to bleed to colour the surrounding area was *chef’s kiss*.
Then it was time to move on to an actual colouring book.
You know that I have to use this Easter colouring book I recently got – it is so seasonable right now and is giving me all of the spring vibes.
Now here’s my disclaimer – I might really enjoy colouring, but that’s not to say I am any good at it! A lot of the streaky areas you see are down to my bad technique because I don’t use the chasing the ink method.
I really felt the limited range of colours when colouring in this page and they aren’t colours that I would normally choose.
Some of the colours worked really well, like the red. I’m not sure if it was my technique and practising ‘chasing the ink’ or the markers themselves, but the red went on like butter on the paper. In comparison, the grey turned out streaky.
I did use the uni-ball rollerbalpen as my white highlighter in this picture.
I was keen to try the blending out, especially as the set contained a colourless blending pen, and I wasn’t blown away.
Free Art Studio dual tip art marker pens Colouring Swatch Sheet
Want to see how the colours really look? Download my free swatch chart! Just sign up below, and you’ll get instant access to print as many copies as you need.
Click on the image to access the PDF either using a smartphone or a laptop/desktop computer or even a tablet and print it off. You can print off as many copies as you would like.
Pros & Cons of the markers
Here are the pros and cons of markers from The Range:
Pros:
- Easy to find in store.
- Extremely affordable for the set.
- Alcohol markers which many people prefer to water based markers.
- Comes in a carry case.
- Blendable.
- Dual tips.
Cons:
- High price per marker at almost 50p per marker – not far off the leading brand of marker at 67p each
- Very limited range of colours with no pinks or decent skin tones.
- The carry case is flimsy.
Are the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens Worth Getting?
No short answer would be no, it is not worth getting the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens.
That said, if you haven’t tried alcohol markers and you want to test them before investing in a set with a wider range of colours, or you don’t want to wait to order online then get them to try.
I would prefer to get the markers from Home Bargains to get a wider choice of colours for just £4 more than these markers from The Range. Failing that, I would choose to get this set of 80 alcohol markers.
Want to get your hands on free colouring pages? Check mine out below:
See my free swatch sheets:
See my other adult colouring content:
FAQs About Art Studio Dual Tip Art Marker Pens
Are the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens alcohol-based?
Yes, the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens are alcohol-based. This means they offer smoother coverage and better blending compared to water-based markers, though they are more likely to bleed through paper.
Where can I buy Art Studio dual tip art marker pens?
You can find the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens at The Range in-store and sometimes online. Availability can vary, so it’s worth checking before heading out.
How many colours come in the Art Studio dual tip art marker set?
The set includes 12 markers: 11 colours and 1 colourless blending pen. The colours included are Coral Red, Lemon Yellow, Turquoise Green, Emerald Green, Pastel Blue, Royal Blue, Azalea Purple, Chocolate, Rose Beige, Black, Cool Grey, and the Colourless Blender.
Do the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens bleed through paper?
Yes, because they are alcohol-based, they can bleed through most paper. To avoid damaging the surface underneath, place a sheet of cardstock or spare paper behind the page you’re colouring.
Are the Art Studio dual tip markers good for beginners?
They can be a good, low-cost introduction to alcohol markers for beginners. However, the limited colour selection might be frustrating if you’re looking to create more detailed or colourful art.
What types of tips do the Art Studio markers have?
These markers have dual tips: a fine tip on one end for details and a broad chisel tip on the other for filling in larger areas—ideal for colouring and basic illustrations.
Can I blend colours with them?
Yes, to a degree. The set includes a colourless blending pen, but the limited colour selection may restrict your blending options. You’ll get better results with practice and by using suitable blending techniques.
Is the carry case that comes with the Art Studio markers good quality?
The markers come in a plastic carry case with a handle and clips. However, the case is quite flimsy, and the lid can pop off easily. It’s functional but not the most durable.
Are there better alternatives to the Art Studio dual tip art marker pens?
Yes, there are. While these markers are affordable and accessible, brands like Ohuhu offer more colours, better blending, and more value per marker. If you’re ready to invest more, they’re worth considering.
Are they worth buying?
If you’re completely new to alcohol markers and want to try them without spending too much, they’re worth a try. But if you’re looking for quality, colour range, and long-term use, there are better options on the market.
