Bahrain Art & Craft Shop: Home Decor, Ceramics & Mixed Media

If you've ever driven across Bahrain looking for a specific brush size, a decent watercolour paper, or a resin kit that isn't sold out, you'll know that the art supply scene here is more layered than it first appears. Some stores cater to beginners and school kids, others quietly stock professional-grade materials that rival what you'd find online from international suppliers. This guide breaks down the best options , what they're actually good for, what to expect when you walk in, and roughly what you'll spend.

Touch Of Art , Budaiya Road Branch

Walk into most art stores in Bahrain and someone is at your side within thirty seconds, hovering as you browse. Touch of Art on Budaiya Road is different. The staff here know their products well , not in a rehearsed sales way, but in the way that someone who actually paints or draws knows them , and they let you take your time. That relaxed atmosphere alone makes it worth the visit, but the product range is what keeps people coming back.

The brush selection at this branch is the best you'll find in Bahrain. Mont Marte brush sets sit at the accessible end of the range, with starter kits running around 1.5 to 4 BHD (roughly $4 to $11). From there, the range moves into more professional territory, and the variety in shape, size, and bristle type is genuinely impressive. Beyond brushes, the store carries a solid lineup of Winsor & Newton products , including Cotman watercolours and Griffin alkyd oils , alongside multiple acrylic and oil paint brands. Staedtler Promarkers and Flex markers are also stocked, typically priced between 1.5 and 2.5 BHD each ($4 to $7).

One detail that separates this store from many others in the area is that it runs training courses and workshops across different drawing disciplines. If you're a beginner who has just started buying supplies but isn't sure how to use them properly, this is a resource worth taking seriously. The courses are run by people who understand the materials they're teaching with, which makes a practical difference.

The showroom is spacious, which matters more than it sounds , you can actually move around, compare products side by side, and make a calm decision without feeling rushed. A few shoppers have also noted that the store stocks wool and yarn, which is surprisingly hard to find at a decent quality level in Bahrain. Entry-level supplies start around 1 to 3 BHD ($2.65 to $8), while mid-range and professional brand items generally run between 3 and 15 BHD ($8 to $40) depending on the product. There is a second branch in Zinj, which is covered separately below.

    

             

    

        

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Touch Of Art , Zinj Branch

The Zinj branch shares the same values as its Budaiya Road counterpart , no pressure, helpful staff, genuine product knowledge , but the mix is different enough that it's worth treating as its own destination rather than just a closer alternative.

The most distinctive thing about this location is its spray paint range. Montana cans are stocked here, which puts it ahead of most competitors in Bahrain for anyone working in street art, urban art, or model painting. Spray paint cans typically run between 3 and 6 BHD ($8 to $16) depending on the brand and size. The marker selection is also broad , alcohol-based illustration markers, paint markers, and various other types are available, generally priced between 1.5 and 3 BHD ($4 to $8) per unit.

The store is split across two floors. The ground level is focused on paint , oils, acrylics, watercolours, and poster paints across multiple brands. Head upstairs and the range opens into yarn, cardstock, canvas supplies, mosaic kits, and kids' craft materials. It makes the store genuinely useful for a wider range of creative projects, not just traditional painting. Canvas packs start around 2 to 5 BHD ($5 to $13).

Staff here are known for being thorough when you ask questions. One practical tip worth passing on: if you're unsure whether a particular varnish spray is compatible with the paint you're using , a common and expensive mistake for people new to finishing their work , ask before you buy. The team will walk you through it. Home delivery is also available at this branch, which is a real convenience when you're ordering heavier items like multiple canvases or a full paint set restocking. If something isn't on the shelf, it's worth asking whether it can be ordered in. The store also runs art courses, similar to the Budaiya Road location.

Art Shift Trading

Art Shift Trading operates differently from a conventional walk-in art store, and understanding that difference is key to getting the most out of it. This is a specialist resin art supplier , arguably the best one in Bahrain , and it functions as much through delivery and workshops as it does through the physical shop.

Resin art materials are genuinely difficult to source well in Bahrain. Kits, pigments, molds, and finishing products are scattered across general stores with inconsistent stock and limited expertise. Art Shift Trading fills that gap specifically. The business is primarily run by Ali, who is both the supplier and the instructor for resin art workshops. That combination matters more than it might seem: when the person teaching you is also the person who stocks the materials, the recommendations in class are grounded in what's actually available and practical to buy, rather than sending you hunting elsewhere after the session ends.

Delivery is a central part of how this supplier operates. Customers consistently highlight the promptness of orders and the patience of the team when handling questions , including people ordering resin for the first time who need guidance on quantities and types. Starter resin kits generally run between 8 and 20 BHD ($21 to $53) depending on volume and brand. Pigment sets and supplementary items start around 3 to 8 BHD ($8 to $21). If you're approaching resin art seriously and want a reliable local source rather than waiting on international shipping, this is the supplier worth building a relationship with.

Union Stationery , Exhibition Road

Union Stationery on Exhibition Road is, by a meaningful margin, the most brand-diverse art supply destination in Bahrain. While most stores carry one or two internationally recognised names, Union stocks a roster that working artists and serious art students will recognise immediately: Daler Rowney, Amsterdam by Royal Talens, Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, Van Gogh, Strathmore, Canson, Fabriano, and Derwent are all available here. For anyone who has been ordering these brands from overseas or substituting with whatever was locally available, finding them under one roof in Bahrain is a genuine convenience.

The Exhibition Road location covers both office stationery and art materials, and it's large enough that you can spend a significant amount of time moving through the art section without running out of things to look at. Parking is accessible from two directions, which helps , though between 6 PM and 10 PM, spaces fill up and it's worth going earlier if you can.

    

             

    

        

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It's worth being honest about the experience, though. The store has had some inconsistency in recent years. Price tags are not always on items, which means regular trips to the counter to ask. Some previously stocked products are harder to find than they used to be. And while there are staff members available, the store is large enough that finding someone to help you in a specific section sometimes requires a bit of effort. None of this outweighs the product range for a serious artist , but it's useful to know before you go so you're not caught off guard.

For professional-grade papers, Fabriano, Canson, and Strathmore pads typically run between 3 and 12 BHD ($8 to $32). Daniel Smith watercolours and comparable professional pigments can reach 5 to 18 BHD ($13 to $48) per tube or set. Entry-level supplies start well below 3 BHD ($8), and the store carries wholesale quantities for those buying for a class or group.

Al Manar Stationery

Al Manar Stationery is one of Bahrain's most established stationery chains, with branches including Wadi Al Sail Mall and East Riffa. It's best understood not as a specialist art store but as a comprehensive stationery destination with a solid art section inside it , and that distinction shapes what you should go there for.

The product detail most worth flagging is gold leaf. It's stocked here, and that's genuinely rare for a stationery or art store in Bahrain. If you're working on mixed media, decorative art, or calligraphy projects that call for gold leaf, Al Manar is likely your most straightforward local option. Gold leaf booklets are generally available in the 2 to 5 BHD ($5 to $13) range depending on sheet count and finish.

The art section covers acrylic, oil, and watercolour paints, coloured pencils, and general craft materials. For parents and students, the school supply range is extensive , thermocol, birthday decoration items, gift boxes, craft foam, and art books are all available. Online ordering and home delivery are both options, which makes the store practical for bulk school supply runs without a full in-store trip.

Branch experience does vary. The Wadi Al Sail Mall location tends to receive more consistent feedback for staff attentiveness and organised shelving. Other branches have had periods of poor staff responsiveness and less organised stock. If you're visiting for the first time, the mall branch is the more reliable starting point. Discounts are often available at checkout , it's worth asking before you finalise your purchase rather than finding out afterwards.

General stationery and basic art supplies start from under 1 BHD ($2.65). Mid-range materials like quality coloured pencil sets, sketchbooks, and acrylic starter sets typically fall between 2 and 8 BHD ($5 to $21).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where is the best place to buy professional art supplies in Bahrain?

Union Stationery on Exhibition Road carries the widest range of professional-grade brands in Bahrain, including Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, Fabriano, Daler Rowney, and Derwent. For brushes and paint brands in a more relaxed shopping environment, Touch of Art on Budaiya Road is a strong alternative, particularly if you also want access to art workshops.

2. Which art store in Bahrain offers home delivery?

Touch of Art (Zinj branch) and Art Shift Trading both offer home delivery. Art Shift Trading is especially useful for resin art supplies, where ordering in advance and having items delivered is more practical than relying on walk-in stock.

3. Are there art stores in Bahrain that offer classes or workshops?

Yes. Both Touch of Art branches — Budaiya Road and Zinj — run art courses and workshops covering various drawing and painting disciplines, suitable for beginners and developing artists. Art Shift Trading offers resin art workshops specifically, led by the supplier himself, which is useful if you want hands-on guidance alongside your materials.