A table easel that takes itself seriously. The Edinburgh is Daler-Rowney's flagship box easel — a beautifully made, compact painting station that combines a fully adjustable easel with a generous, well-organised storage box in a single piece of FSC-certified oiled beechwood. It is the kind of object that feels like a considered purchase rather than an impulse buy, and one that will still be in service decades from now if it is looked after.
The construction quality sets it apart from most easels at this price point. The joints are dovetailed rather than simply screwed together, giving the box real structural integrity. The hardware is brass finished throughout. The canvas support adjusts to any angle between fully vertical and fully horizontal — a genuinely useful range that makes the Edinburgh equally at home with oils and acrylics on canvas as with watercolour and drawing on paper, where a more inclined surface is often preferred. Metal rails support the lid when open rather than the wooden struts used on cheaper alternatives, which are a common point of failure. The leather carry handle is a small detail that makes a large practical difference when moving the easel between rooms or transporting it to a class or location.
The box interior is divided into compartments by removable dividers, giving complete flexibility over how the space is organised — tubes of paint, brushes, mediums, palette knives, and accessories can all be accommodated and rearranged as needed. When folded, the whole thing is compact enough to store in a bag or under a table. When set up, the maximum height is 62.2cm — substantial enough to work at comfortably from a standing or seated position at a table.
The easel holds canvases and paper pads up to 43cm (approximately A3 portrait) in height. Weight is 1.6kg — light enough to carry with one hand. Made from 100% FSC-certified oiled beechwood.
Folded dimensions: 37.8 x 27 x 8.9cm Set up height: 62.2cm Maximum canvas height: 43cm (approximately A3 portrait) Weight: 1.6kg Material: FSC-certified oiled beechwood Hardware: Brass finished Handle: Leather
What is a box easel? A box easel combines a painting easel with a built-in storage box in a single portable unit — allowing you to store and transport your materials inside the easel itself, and set up a complete painting station wherever you are. The Edinburgh is a table box easel, designed to sit on any flat surface rather than stand independently on the floor.
What media is it suitable for? It is suitable for oils, acrylics, watercolour, gouache, charcoal, and drawing — any medium that can be worked on a canvas, canvas board, or paper pad up to 43cm in height. The fully adjustable angle makes it practical for all these media, from near-vertical for oil painting to a shallow incline for watercolour.
Can it be used standing up? Yes — when set up on a table, the maximum height of 62.2cm is sufficient to allow standing work at a standard table height, particularly for shorter sessions or when using a high stool. Most users will find it most comfortable at a seated position.
How much storage does the box offer? The box measures 37.5 x 26.5 x 8.5cm internally and has removable dividers that can be arranged to suit your working setup. It will comfortably accommodate a selection of paint tubes, a range of brushes, basic mediums and solvents in small bottles, and palette knives.
Is it suitable for outdoor painting? It is light enough and portable enough for outdoor use, and the leather handle makes it easy to carry. For dedicated plein air painting involving longer walks or rougher terrain, a dedicated field easel might be more practical — but for painting from a car, in a garden, or at a location where you are close to a flat surface, the Edinburgh works well.
