Fabulous art supplies shop which has everything any artist could possibly need. Watercolours, oils, acrylics, pastels, paper, canvas, easels and brushes — you’ll find it all here. Bradbury also stock student to professional grade paints, so you’ll find a range of prices. Staff are extremely helpful and the art gallery section has some truly inspirational artwork on display.
Jules S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Belfast, United Kingdom
A sweetie shop for creative types, Bradbury used to take over this whole corner but in recent times has halved in size. Obviously the financial downturn applied to artists too. No need to worry as while they are smaller they still have everything you could possibly need to knock up your attempt at a masterpiece. Housing a good stock of paints, papers and pencils you probably could buy cheaper online, but sometimes the muse just takes you and you want stuff there and then, eh fellow Picassos? ;-) They also sell completed works by established artists and limited edition prints if you are feeling particularly flush, but if you’ve made it here just buy a brush and do it yourself!
Laura C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Belfast, United Kingdom
I am a stationery geek.(Not a stationary one, as that would mean I stand still wearing an elvish cloak, but I’m sure my fellow Unilocalers know the distinction.) I still miss Tokyo with its mad range of mad stationery items, but in Belfast Bradbury Graphics fills most of my needs. I’m not an artist at all, and in fact remember crying as a kid when I spent a whole £2.50 of my £5 birthday book token on a book promising that I could learn to draw, but those thwarted dreams mean I can still go to Bradbury Graphics and drool over paints and canvases. And this is where I buy my Moleskine diary every year. Pretentious, moi? I’m also trying to work myself up to buy one of the brightly coloured album type books at the back of the shop. They’re about 20 quid, but oh so worth it — A4, creamy paper and with a bright yellow jacket. I just have to find something to write to justify it first. Whether you’re an artist or a writer, or just a crafty sod, Bradbury Graphics is the place for you.
J K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Belfast, United Kingdom
This really is where the artists go to get their various supplies if you need art related materials then this place is certainly likely to meet your needs. Bradbury Graphics is like a more specialised version of the upstairs of Easons in the city centre. You’re much more likely to get the correct size or width of canvas here than you would elsewhere in the city. There is also a superb range of varied oils and acrylics, much wider than anywhere else I’ve seen in Belfast. I called in here a few weeks back to get a few canvas(tiny little ones to do a series of basic modern colour pieces for my walls) Prices are a little on the high side but if you want the quality and range it’s difficult to go elsewhere really.
Michael M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Belfast, United Kingdom
As a younger man I harboured some modest artist ambitions so when I first moved to Belfast I grew to love this shop. Now re-located for a looong time now it’s good to see they kept the original name and the shop floor space has expanded accordingly. Even if your not of a particularly artist bent a visit is recommended to browse the large selection of cards and prints. For the more serious art crowd out there, the stock and selection of paint, papers, stencils, brushes, pencils etcetc is quite staggering. Just out at the back of Boots give it a go. Pro: Manna for the serious and not so serious artist. Cons: This stuff can get pricey.
Tia C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Belfast, United Kingdom
THE quality art shop in Belfast and a must for any art students or artists in the area. Bradbury Graphics stock an impressive range of paints, canvases, brushes, easels, sketchpads, books and DVDs on art and stationary. The shop also boasts a print factory, a design studio and it’s own little gallery. An impressive, quality and comprehensive art supply shop.
Judith C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Belfast, United Kingdom
Ok, so I’m not the most artistically inclined person in the world(I struggle to draw stick figures), but that doesn’t mean I can’t get involved with arts and crafts, does it? Personally, I love making people cards for their birthdays. Mostly it involves buying some paper, throwing some glitter at it and signing my name(but it’s still more personalised than some crap from Hallmark!) For this, I come to Bradbury graphics. They’re sometimes(but not always) more expensive than going somewhere like Easons or WH Smith, but the choice of art supplies is very extensive, so it’s suitable for proper artists or… you know… people like me! They also sell prints and do framing, so it’s basically a one-stop kind of place for everything arty.
Lyra M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Belfast, United Kingdom
Bradbury Graphics is like the dictionary of art supplies i. e if there’s a name for it, it’ll stock it. Have visited here a few times during various ‘art’ phases, and have to say it’s a great wee store. It seems to be the preferred store of choice for the local college and university art courses, which can only be a good sign. It’s certainly a trusted supplier for local artists, so going by referral networks, highly recommended.
Lynne M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Belfast, United Kingdom
Perhaps my proudest moment to date was when I was in Primary six, a mere 10 years old, when my teacher selected myself and three other girls to…*drum roll please*…start writing in pen instead of pencil! Yes, it was a proud moment indeed. Approximately three years after the initial pen event, my class became subject to a second wave of incredible pen-related incidences… the introduction of scented pens! Wow, wow, wow. In every smell you could possibly imagine — from popcorn to melon, cola to bubblegum — we just could not get enough of these beautifully smelly pens. Understandably, I deeply appreciate the need for stationery(particularly pens) in one’s life. Of course, there is much more to Bradbury Graphics than pens. Artists can avail of the canvases and paints, card-makers will be in seventh heaven, and for the organised among us, there are diaries galore. Prices are on the slightly higher side, but if ever I need to satisfy my pen addiction, I know where I’ll be off…
Emma P.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Belfast, United Kingdom
Since I did art in school from GCSE onwards, I’ve been a little bit in love with this shop and have always wanted to work there. It supplies every single thing you might need to be creative. Oil paints, printing blocks, assortments of paper and card, glitter, paintbrushes, calligraphy pens and a million other things that you don’t need but that you want… very badly. They also have a gallery connected to the art store, which, if it doesn’t put you in the mood to buy art, will put you in the mood to create some. I’ve seen some gorgeous paintings and prints in here, and always hoped I could buy one. The true creative types and art lovers could get lost in here, looking through all the supplies and artistic ideas and so forth. It isn’t cheap though, especially if you need a good few items, but you will feel like you’ve treated yourself to something special.