Promotional graphic for a lion paint-by-numbers kit, showing a completed lion portrait painting, numbered paint drops, three paintbrushes, and large text reading 'LION PAINT BY NUMBERS: The Complete UK Guide'.

Lion Paint by Numbers: The Complete UK Guide

Summary

Lion paint by numbers is one of the most rewarding animal subjects in the format: bold enough to read from across a room, complex enough to hold attention across multiple sessions. This guide covers our Colourful Lion kit in full, explains what makes a lion canvas worth painting, gives you the specific techniques for fur and mane sections, and includes a full comparison table so you can choose the right colour count before you order.

Of all the animal subjects in paint by numbers, lions present a particular challenge and a particular reward. The challenge is the mane: hundreds of overlapping strands moving in every direction, each with its own tonal shift from warm amber through dark brown to near-black shadow. The reward is that when those sections come together, the finished canvas has a presence that simpler subjects cannot match.

This guide covers everything you need to know about lion paint by numbers in the UK, from choosing the right kit to the specific techniques that separate a flat result from one that looks genuinely alive.

Colourful Lion Paint by Numbers Kit showing a vivid lion portrait in purples, teals and golds on premium linen canvas in a wooden frame

The Colourful Lion Paint by Numbers Kit: a vivid, statement portrait with a non-traditional palette that stands out as wall art.

How Difficult Is Lion Paint by Numbers?

Lions are not beginner territory in the way that simple landscapes or florals are, but a well-designed kit breaks the mane into manageable numbered sections rather than asking you to interpret the subject freehand. The difficulty depends entirely on the design style chosen.

Design Style Difficulty Why Best For
Colourful / Abstract

Moderate		 Vivid, distinct colour zones make section boundaries clear Confident beginners, intermediate painters
Photorealistic (naturalistic browns)

Challenging		 Close tonal shades of brown and gold are hard to distinguish under poor lighting Intermediate to advanced painters
Portrait (face only, minimal mane)

Accessible		 Fewer sections, higher impact per section Beginners who want a statement piece

Our Lion Kit: Colourful Lion Paint by Numbers

Colourful Lion Paint by Numbers Kit | From £24.99

Colourful Lion Paint by Numbers Kit completed canvas showing deep purple, teal and gold lion portrait on linen canvas

A full-face lion portrait painted in a vivid, non-naturalistic palette: deep purples in the shadow zones, electric teals and blues behind the mane, warm oranges and golds in the face. The colourful treatment is the point. Where a photorealistic lion portrait asks you to work in subtle tonal differences between similar shades of brown, this design gives you bold, clearly distinct colour zones that are satisfying to fill and produce a finished piece that is unmistakably its own thing.

On a 40x50cm linen canvas with 24, 36, or 48 colour options. Available with no frame, a DIY frame kit, or ready-framed. Part of our Animals and Wildlife collection.

Choosing Your Colour Count

Colour Count Mane Detail Petal/Background Depth Time to Complete Recommended?
24 colours Simplified, broader zones Flatter, less range 8 to 12 hours No, palette compressed
36 colours Good depth and separation Strong, full range 10 to 15 hours Yes, best balance
48 colours Maximum fur depth Richest teal-to-gold range 12 to 18 hours Yes, for best result

Technique: How to Paint a Lion Mane

5-Step Mane Painting Method

1
Map the shadow zones first Apply the darkest mane colours before any lighter tones. Shadows dry fully and anchor the form.
2
Work dark to light Move from the darkest inner mane outward to mid-tones, then highlights. Never the reverse.
3
Use short directional strokes Follow the direction fur grows: outward from the face, downward along the mane body.
4
Two-pass technique First pass: establish tone. Let dry 15 to 20 minutes. Second pass: directional strokes over the dry base for texture.
5
Eyes last Every decision in the painting calibrates toward the eyes. Finish them after everything else is dry and assessed.

Why the Two-Pass Technique Works

Acrylic paint sitting on bare linen behaves differently from acrylic sitting on a dry layer of the same colour. The second pass has a markedly different surface quality because the bristles move through dried colour rather than absorbing into raw canvas. This is used in professional animal portrait painting and produces a noticeably more three-dimensional result in mane and fur sections. For the full technique breakdown, read our guide on how to paint realistic fur and feathers.

Pro Tip: Use a Daylight Lamp for the Mane Sections

Standard warm indoor lighting makes it difficult to distinguish between close tonal shades, which is exactly the problem in a mane with many browns, golds, and ambers. A daylight lamp positioned above and slightly to the left of the canvas makes the numbered sections far easier to read, reduces errors, and significantly reduces eye fatigue across longer sessions. It is the single most impactful equipment addition beyond the kit itself.

Lion Paint by Numbers vs Other Animal Kits

Animal Difficulty Key Challenge Time (est.) Wall Impact
Lion Moderate to Challenging Mane tonal complexity 10 to 18 hrs Very High
Dog Beginner to Moderate Fur texture and eye detail 8 to 14 hrs High
Cat Beginner to Moderate Fine whisker detail 7 to 12 hrs High
Highland Cow Beginner Long fringe fur sections 8 to 12 hrs High
Horse Moderate Body musculature and mane 10 to 16 hrs High

Is This Kit Suitable as a Gift?

A lion canvas makes a strong gift for someone who is already a painter and ready for more challenge, or for anyone with a strong affinity for big cats. The finished piece has a presence that makes it genuinely suitable as wall art in almost any home.

For the most personal version, the Custom Pet Portrait service converts a photograph of any animal into a numbered canvas at £29.99. Not a ready-made lion design, but the recipient's own pet, painted by hand.

Current offer: Buy 2, Get 1 Free (add 3 to cart) / Buy 4, Get 2 Free (add 6) / Buy 6, Get 3 Free (add 9). Mix and match across the collection. Free UK delivery on orders over £45.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lion paint by numbers difficult?
More demanding than most landscape or floral subjects, primarily because of the mane. The Colourful Lion kit is accessible to confident beginners because vivid, distinct colour zones make section boundaries clear. Complete one or two simpler kits first if this is your first attempt.

What colour count should I choose?
36 or 48 colours. The colourful palette in this kit works best with more colours. 24 colours compresses the tonal range in the mane noticeably and is not recommended for this design.

How long will it take to complete?
Between 10 and 18 hours across multiple sessions, depending on experience level and colour count chosen. The mane is the most time-intensive section. See our full guide on how long paint by numbers takes for a breakdown across design types.

What size is the canvas and what framing options are there?
40x50cm portrait orientation. Choose no frame, a DIY frame kit included with your order, or ready-framed using the options on the product page.

Can I get a custom lion canvas from a photo?
Yes. The Custom Paint by Numbers service converts any photograph into a numbered canvas. Upload a high-quality lion image and receive a kit specific to that photo.

Related Guides

Shop Lion Paint by Numbers

The Colourful Lion kit on premium linen canvas, 40x50cm. Choose your colour count and framing option. From £24.99, free UK delivery over £45.

Shop the Lion Kit All Animal Kits
William Murdock founder of Paint on Numbers UK

About the Author: William Murdock

Founder of Paint on Numbers UK. William believes that lions are the most rewarding animal subject in paint by numbers precisely because they ask the most of the painter and give the most in return.

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