Here in Maine you’ll find a dedicated team with more than 50 years’ experience in the art materials industry, working hard to build an art supply business second to none.

Jackson’s Art US is a partnership of two companies, Jackson’s Art, UK and the Italian Art Store, US.

Jackson’s Art US is headed up by Gail Fishback and Rebecca Taffet. Gail was the Associate Publisher of American Artist magazine, and former president of NAMTA (the International Art Materials Association). Rebecca has a background running Art Teacher programs across the country.

In 2018, Gail and her daughter Rebecca became the owners of the Italian Art Store, a 30-year-old business, which was opened in Morristown, New Jersey by Claude Bernard.

Jackson’s Art Supplies and The Italian Art Store were both founded on the same principles, the love for fine art supplies and putting customers first. With the huge range offered by Jackson’s Art and the IAS dedication to customer service, a perfect marriage was created.

Every month our US range grows, meaning wider choices, faster delivery, all with our unique personal touch.

Founded in London in 2000, Jackson’s offers a vast range of fine art materials to artists from all over the world. At the heart of Jackson’s is a commitment to sourcing and providing the finest art materials. With our expertise and knowledge, we are confident we can supply the materials you need to realise your unique creative potential. 

We search globally for innovative new products from the world’s finest artisan makers, and welcome suggestions for new products to add to our existing ranges. Our own brand products include paints, brushes, tools, and surfaces, which offer true value and have been developed by working with the best makers and trusted manufacturers.

We are passionate about all things art materials-related, providing a wide range of resources for artists. This includes our blog, in-house films, and printed publications, featuring everything from technical advice and in-depth interviews with artists to unbiased reviews of the latest art materials and supplier insights. Our Artist Reward Program offers subscribers access to our resources via weekly emails as well as unique perks including exclusive promotions and discounts.

We’re also proud to provide opportunities for artists through our annual competition, Jackson’s Art Prize, and our Online Art Gallery which showcases the exceptional artwork of rising artists from around the world.

Without St. Petersburg paints, there wouldn’t be Jackson’s. In the early 90’s, artist Nick Bell returned from an exchange in Moscow with a handful of inexpensive Russian oil paints. He gave his friend Gary Thompson a few to try. Amazed by the most intense colors that they had ever used or hoped to afford, the two friends from art school joined forces and began to sell the paints from the basement of a gallery in Waterloo, London.

Business was slow at the start, until, out of the blue, an artist searching for a rare Russian green pigment ordered a watercolor set and wrote a glowing review for one of the practical art magazines. Almost overnight, the friends were inundated with cheques from all over the country, and a mail-order company was born: 3K Project Art.

As the company grew, more products were added to the range, but ultimately the range was too limited. The owner of an art shop in Leeds offered to fund the enterprise with his own stock, so Nick and Gary began their new venture: Art Express. The friends produced the first color UK fine art materials catalogue along with a website, although people rarely shopped online at the time. Art Express went from strength to strength as a mail-order company, setting new standards in delivery times and pricing, only to be cast aside by the new business partner. Nick decided to return to his original practice in architecture while Gary, having trained as a painter, sought new ways to fund the cost of living.

The following year Gary received a call from Michael Venus, the owner of Handover brushes at the time, who kindly offered to help set up in competition to Art Express. Gary jumped at the opportunity, and in late 1999, set about designing the new Jackson’s catalogue, full of incredible value brushes, and in January 2000, Jackson’s launched.

Read the full-length story

Listen to Gary's interview with Ask an Artist

We’re always on the lookout for talented people to work with. If you think you’d make a great addition to our team with your skills or knowledge of fine art materials, then please get in touch with us at jointheteam@jacksonsart.co.uk