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Here at The Paint Club we are keen to support the communities within North Wales, and look after one of our favourite places. We have been hosting events in the area since 2021, and are regularly in the area seeing friends, or going on mini adventures in and around Eryri. We have a deep connection to the region, you may also notice that a lot of John’s own artwork takes inspiration from the area. North Wales, with its rugged mountains, dramatic coastlines, and ancient castles, has long been a source of inspiration for artists, making it a region rich in artistic heritage. Did you know that painters such as J.M.W. Turner and Richard Wilson were inspired by North Wales? We are back at Camp Bongo hosting 3 events over the Summer bank holidays. We have events at Aber Falls Distillery and have teamed up with Caffi Siabod for a special summer pop up, keep your eyes peeled for this one! Yma yn The Paint Club, rydym yn awyddus i gefnogi’r cymunedau o fewn Gogledd Cymru, ac i ofalu am un o’n hoff lefydd. Rydym wedi bod yn cynnal digwyddiadau yn yr ardal ers 2021, ac yn ymweld yn rheolaidd i weld ffrindiau, neu fynd ar anturiaethau bach yn ac o amgylch Eryri. Mae gennym gysylltiad dwfn â’r rhanbarth, ac efallai y sylwch fod llawer o gelfyddyd John ei hun wedi’i hysbrydoli gan yr ardal. Mae Gogledd Cymru, gyda’i mynyddoedd garw, ei arfordiroedd dramatig, a’i chestyll hynafol, wedi bod yn ffynhonnell ysbrydoliaeth i artistiaid ers tro, gan ei gwneud yn rhanbarth cyfoethog o ran treftadaeth artistig. Oeddech chi’n gwybod bod paentwyr fel J.M.W. Turner a Richard Wilson wedi’u hysbrydoli gan Ogledd Cymru? Rydyn ni’n ôl yng Nghamp Bongo yn cynnal 3 digwyddiad dros wyliau banc yr Haf. Mae gennym ddigwyddiadau yn Distyllfa Aber Falls ac rydyn ni wedi ymuno â Chaffi Siabod ar gyfer pop-up arbennig yr haf.

We hear it all the time: “I’m not creative.” “Oh, I can’t draw.” “I haven’t painted since school.” And honestly? We get it. Somewhere along the line, a lot of us were told that creativity was only for the “arty” people. The ones who could sketch something realistic, write a beautiful poem, or paint a perfect landscape. But here’s the truth: Everyone is creative. Yes— even you . Creativity isn’t about talent Being creative isn’t about being good at something. It’s not about producing a masterpiece (although everyone will take home a masterpiece after a session at The Paint Club!) or impressing anyone. It’s about expressing yourself . It’s about trying something new, having a go, laughing at the wonky bits, and enjoying the process. You don’t need to know what you’re doing. In fact, it’s often more fun when you don’t. Our favourite moments at Paint Club? They’re not always about the painting. They’re the moments when someone comes in nervously saying “I can’t paint,” and leaves beaming because they had the best time. When someone surprises themselves. When laughter fills the room. When people stop worrying about the result and just enjoy the doing. That’s creativity in action. And it has nothing to do with being “good”. Creativity looks different for everyone Maybe painting is your thing. Maybe it’s baking, building Lego with your kids, arranging flowers, or singing in the shower. Creativity shows up in everyday moments—when you choose colours for your home, decorate a cake, or even write a thoughtful message in a card. It doesn’t have to look like art. It just has to feel like you . Let go of the rules There are no grades here. No one’s judging. You can paint a sunset that looks like a sandwich, and we’ll still cheer you on. The magic happens when you let go of expectations and just give it a go. Because you don’t need to be an artist. You just need to be open. Come join us If you’ve been telling yourself you’re “not creative,” we invite you to come along to one of our Paint Club events and prove yourself wrong—in the best way possible. We provide everything, guide you step-by-step, and give you full permission to enjoy the process (and yes, sip a glass of wine while you do it). 🎨 Check out upcoming events and book your seat here → You might just surprise yourself, and we’ll be there, cheering you on—painty hands and all.

We live in a world that’s constantly pulling our attention in numerous different directions. There’s always another notification, another email, another thing on the list. It can be hard to find even five minutes where your mind isn’t racing ahead to what’s next. That’s why we love painting.It gives us a rare chance to pause, breathe, and be present . The power of being in the moment You’ve probably heard the phrase “be in the moment” before—it’s something we all strive for, but it’s surprisingly tricky to do. Painting has a gentle way of pulling you back into the now . You’re choosing colours, moving a brush, focusing on shapes and lines. Your hands are busy, your eyes are focused, and slowly, the outside noise fades away. You're not thinking about yesterday's worries or tomorrow’s to-dos. You're just there , in it. It’s like meditation (but with more colour) We often compare painting to meditation—but without the pressure to sit still or clear your mind. When you're painting, you're completely focused on the present task. Your breathing slows. Your shoulders drop. It’s calming, grounding, and often surprisingly emotional. For many people, it’s one of the few times in the week where they truly switch off. We see it at our events all the time—people start the evening tense or distracted, and by the end, they’re smiling, relaxed, and genuinely surprised at how good they feel. You don’t have to be an artist This part is important: painting to be present has nothing to do with being “good” at painting. It’s not about creating a masterpiece. It’s about letting go, following the process, and allowing yourself to play without judgment. There’s something really freeing about giving yourself permission to try something creative, just for you. No screens, no pressure, no performance—just paint, paper, and presence. Give it a try If you're feeling scattered or overwhelmed, painting might be exactly what you need to slow things down. You don’t need fancy materials—just a few colours and something to paint on. Let yourself explore. Notice the colours. Notice how you feel. You can buy one of our painting kits here to get you started Or come to one of our Paint Club events! We provide everything you need, and guide you through a relaxing, fun painting session designed to help you switch off and reconnect with yourself (and maybe even discover a hidden talent). 🎨 View upcoming events and book your spot here → We’d love to see you there, paintbrush in hand and worries left at the door. In a busy, noisy world, painting helps us come home to the moment, and sometimes, that's all we really need.

The Paint Club was born from a simple but powerful desire: to share the joy of art with everyone and create a space where people could come together, slow down, and reconnect—with themselves and with others. At its heart, it’s always been about accessibility, creativity, and community. We believe that art should be for everyone—not just the professionals, the trained, or the ‘naturally talented.’ Everyone has a creative spark, and we want to help people find it. Over time, The Paint Club has become more than just a creative outlet. It’s also become a moment of calm in the chaos—for our customers and our team alike. In a world where screens dominate our attention and notifications constantly pull us in every direction, these sessions offer a rare chance to unplug. Phones go down, laptops close, and we come back to the physical, sensory world in a mindful, present way. The simple act of painting—mixing colours, making brush strokes, focusing on one task—can feel like a deep breath. And these days, that’s something more and more people are telling us they need. There’s growing recognition of the link between creativity and mental well-being. Creating art can help us process emotions, express ourselves, and experience that magical state of flow—when time seems to melt away and you're fully immersed in what you’re doing. It’s calming, grounding, and incredibly nourishing for the mind. Studies have shown that engaging in creative activities can reduce anxiety, ease depression, and improve overall mood. In short, art isn’t just fun—it’s healing. As co-founders, we understand the tug-of-war between digital demands and real-life connection all too well. Between an ever-growing calendar of events, supporting our amazing HQ and artist teams, and managing the endless tide of emails and admin, it can sometimes feel like we live inside our inboxes. Screen-free time isn’t just a nice idea—it’s something we’ve had to consciously build into our lives. You might notice that we’re not always super active on social media. That’s not because we don’t care—it’s just that when things are busy, finding the time and headspace to create meaningful content can feel like another item on an already full to-do list. We’re learning to prioritise authentic connection over constant visibility. Protecting our own time, creativity, and mental well-being is what allows us to keep showing up for others in a meaningful way. We’re big believers in the power of micro-adventures . Whenever possible, we carve out time each month for little escapes—something simple to look forward to that shifts our focus away from the daily grind. The mountains of Eryri are a regular calling; we head there often to walk, breathe, stretch our eyes across the landscape, and reconnect with nature (and ourselves). It’s our way of pressing reset. The Paint Club brings us so much joy. What started as a small idea nearly a decade ago has grown into something truly special. With a brilliant team of 40 artists and a dedicated HQ crew, we now host events all over the UK. We see firsthand how our sessions light up our customers—giving them a chance to put down their phones, tap into their creativity, and simply be present. Behind those joyful events, though, is a lot of hard work. From admin and financial planning to day-to-day operations, there’s a constant hum of activity behind the scenes—and a lot of screen time. That’s why we’ve come to see our own need to unplug as not just helpful, but essential. The irony isn’t lost on us: we provide spaces for others to disconnect, while often needing that same disconnection ourselves. It’s a work in progress, but one we’re fully committed to. We hope to share more with you about this in future blog posts.

When was the last time you did something just for fun—not to tick it off a list, not to be productive, not even to get better at it—just for the sheer joy of doing it? As kids, we play without thinking. We draw with wild colours, build imaginary worlds, and laugh at things that make no sense at all. But somewhere along the way, play gets replaced with productivity. Our days fill up with to-dos, meetings, emails, and responsibilities. And slowly, quietly, that sense of lightness starts to fade. But here’s the thing: adults need play too. Play isn’t just for kids Play is where imagination lives. It’s how we relax, reset, and reconnect with ourselves and others. It’s been shown to reduce stress, boost creativity, and improve mental health. It helps us let go of perfectionism and embrace the moment. And the best part? It doesn’t need to be complicated. Play can be as simple as putting paint to canvas without worrying how it’ll turn out. Just picking up a brush and seeing where it goes. That’s why we love painting so much Painting brings us into the moment. It asks nothing from us except to show up and give it a go. There’s no right or wrong—just colour, movement, music, maybe a glass of something nice, and the chance to switch off from the outside world for a while. We see it at every Paint Club event: that moment when people stop overthinking and start enjoying. The laughter, the quiet focus, the surprise at what they’ve created. That’s play in action. That’s why we do what we do. Having some fun painting highland cows at The Ffolkes pub in Kings Lynn. It’s not about being “good” One of the biggest blockers to play as adults is the fear of not being good at something. But the beauty of creative play is—it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to be an artist. You don’t need fancy tools. You just need to give yourself permission to try. At our sessions, we often remind people: “It’s not about the end result—it’s about the process.”  And when you let go of the outcome, that’s when the real magic happens. A gentle reminder... If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or just in need of a lift, try making space for a little creative play. Grab some paints, get messy, let go of the ‘shoulds’ for an hour. Or come along to one of our events—we’ll be there to guide you, support you, and celebrate whatever you create. Because joy matters. And adults absolutely deserve to play too.

The Need for Escape In the whirlwind of running a creative business, finding time to truly switch off can feel impossible. With emails constantly pinging, events to organise, and a team to support, it’s easy to stay glued to our screens from sunrise to sunset. That’s why micro-adventures have become our secret weapon for rest, inspiration, and a much-needed reset. What is a Micro-Adventure? Coined by adventurer Alastair Humphreys, a micro-adventure  is a small, accessible trip that offers all the joy of adventure—without needing weeks of planning or time off work. Think: a sunset hike, lunch time wild swim, or spontaneous trip out on a sunny day. It’s about recharging your mind and reconnecting with the world beyond the to-do list. Why We Prioritise Them For us, these mini escapes are more than just fun—they’re essential. Running The Paint Club means our days are full and often fast-paced. Taking even a few hours away helps us refocus, avoid burnout, and stay connected to the original inspiration behind our work: the joy of being present, playful, and creative. We try to plan at least one or two micro-adventures each month. Sometimes they’re simple—an early morning beach walk, a trip to our local bouldering centre, an impromptu trip to a forest café, or a hike in Eryri (Snowdonia), our go-to soul-reset spot. These moments give us space to think, or not think at all, and return with clearer minds and happier hearts. Beautiful Llyn Llydaw, Eryri How Nature Sparks Creativity There’s something about standing on a windswept hilltop or dipping your toes in cold sea water that resets everything. Nature slows us down, quiets the digital noise, and reawakens our senses. It’s no surprise that so much of our artwork—and especially John’s—draws inspiration from these landscapes. Stepping away from screens gives our minds room to wander. Ideas that felt stuck suddenly start to flow. Creative solutions pop up when we’re least expecting them, on the way back from a bouldering session, mid-walk or halfway up a hill. How You Can Try It Too You don’t need to travel far or invest loads of time. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Pack a drink and sketchbook and find a local viewpoint to watch the sunset. Try a digital detox walk—no phones, just the sights and sounds around you. Plan a Sunday morning wild swim or paddle with a friend. Take your favourite book, perhaps a hot drink and find a green space to sit and listen to the world around you. It could be a park, or your garden, listen to the birds, the wind, the bustle of people around you, and breathe. Try something new, perhaps even a little out of your comfort zone! The key is to make it feel special , even if it’s small. A spontaneously trip to our local bouldering centre a mid a busy week. We needed a switch off! In a world that pushes us to always be “on,” micro-adventures offer a chance to be still, to breathe, and to come back to ourselves. For us, they’re not just a luxury—they’re part of how we keep The Paint Club thriving, and how we stay inspired to create. So whether you’re running a business, raising a family, or perhaops feeling overwhelmed by your to do list, we promise: a little adventure goes a long way.

How did we come up with our painting of the three colourful chickens I hear you ask? In June 2024 we hosted an event with a well-known fast food organisation, specialising in a particular type of fried chicken! They contacted us in early 2024 to discuss a commission for a large team event. As part of the commission process, we create lots of sketches which are then developed into a final painting. For this one, the brief was to create a colourful chicken, standing proud. In the end, they went with a different style we proposed (see below). Everyone had a great time and each painting was truly unique! The right chicken for the job. So many amazing paintings. One of the images John created (see below), which was not taken forward, became the basis of our colourful chickens painting. We realised this lone chicken needed some friends, and they were joined by two more clucky hens! Chicken V1. V2. A stronger composition with 3 chickens. These funny chickens, popping their heads up, googly eyes looking into the camera, is now a firm favourite. This painting creates a lot of laughter and joy amongst our community of artists. John is our lead artist, and creates nearly all of our art works. You can see John’s style reflected throughout our gallery of paintings for The Paint Club, and this style has become a distinct part of our brand. We are proud of the paintings we produce and of the work that has gone into them. Our images are not only popular amongst The Paint Club community, as we have seen others taking inspiration from our colourful chickens…! This silly chicken trio makes us chuckle every time we see them, so what better way to keep us smiling while we work than having a giant version on the wall of our studio. See the full video of how the massive birds were painted here: https://youtube.com/shorts/XOW9AZ9wHw8?si=nw_OKjfz7SAf5ThL

We have just returned from a few days away, in the sunshine, with some old friends and their kids. We were able to switch off a little, relax and enjoy ourselves. We still did a bit of work here and there but mostly we spent time playing, enjoying the weather and the good company. Sunflowers following the sun rise. Our HQ team has grown, it has taken a while to get the balance right, but things are settling into a good routine. We can now hand over more of the day-to-day work to focus on the wider business. This also meant we were able to step back a little over the last week, knowing that things back home would still run smoothly. The haybalers had been very busy! We actively look for snippets of time to relax or be playful in our day-to-day lives. It’s something we advocate for with our team and our customers. Having time to relax, be creative and have fun has proven health and well-being benefits, and this is the ethos behind The Paint Club. Carving out time to slow down, unwind on your own or to spend with people you care about, do something fun and get those feel good vibes is super important in this busy, screen-fixated world we live in. Exploring winding woodland trails. #paintandsip #smallbusiness #wellbeingevents #thepaintclubuk

We run The Paint Club, one of the longest standing paint & sip companies in the UK. We have been hosting events for over 9 years. We set up the business purely to share our passion for painting. If you have been to an event you may have been taught by John, and if you have ever contacted us it is likely you spoke to Alice. We met whilst at University. John studied fine Art, and Alice studied Design. It is safe to say that creativity runs through our veins! We have just celebrated 9 years of The Paint Club! Our little side hustle has become our sole focus. What was once John painting and teaching from our favourite pub in Eton, has turned into a fully functioning business, with events across the UK, run by a team of 40 artists and 5 HQ team members! John is a professional artist. This is his website if you're interested . He has exhibited at galleries like Saatchi , The Mall Galleries and The Royal Academy . He’s won a few rather prestigious awards including Lynn Painter Stainer's Young Artist Award . Alice moved from design in to people management and events management. This is something that has been particularly helpful given that we now run upwards of 120 events every month. We enjoy working together. It is great being able to make decisions and test out ideas almost as soon as they are formed. We both have experience of working in corporates, and businesses with huge teams. Our previous experience means we are able to draw on our own skills and knowledge. This has allowed us to grow the business organically. For us one of the most important things is that we find the right people to work with. Our team are all passionate about the same thing, and that is painting. Each one of them is individual and brings their own style to our events. They love to show people the joy of painting. We know that painting is good for the mind. It helps you switch off and allows emotional release. Getting into the zone, also known as a flow state is known to be good for mental wellbeing. (You can read more about this here . ) Everyone leads such busy lives these days, and sometimes it is hard to find the time to slow down and switch off. We see the impact that painting has on our customer's well-being and it is one of the things that spurs us on. The most common thing we hear at the end of an event is someone saying 'it was so nice to switch off and have some down time, you can't think about anything else when you are painting.' It is true, you can't. We love being a part of that experience with our customers, and seeing the joy, feeling of relaxation and sense of achievement at the end of our events. Both of us are passionate about health and well-being, creativity and painting. In our down time we like to walk our dog, have coffee at our local cafe with friends, go on adventures with our family, including hike and cycling, and are always keen to take on new challenges. We live & breathe The Paint Club. We are proud of what we have achieved together, and we are looking forward to the year ahead. If you want to get in touch with us, please email hello@thepaintclub.co.uk to find out more. #paintandsip #smallbusiness #wellbeingevents #thepaintclubuk

As time goes by it's inevitable that your painting hanging on the living room wall will start to accumulate dust. So what is the best way to keep your work of art looking as fresh as the day you painted it? The easiest way to clean up any oil or acrylic painting on canvas or canvas board is simply by using a white cotton cloth soaked in water with a little soap. Start by rubbing the cloth over the surface of the painting to gently remove any dust and grime. If your painting style is quite thick (impasto 🧑‍🎨 ) be careful not to rub too hard and break off any lumps and bumps. We've put together a simple step-by-step guide on how to clean your canvas here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwDvWy3AjuE For works on paper, if the paint is non-water based, gently rubbing a white cotton cloth over the painting should be enough to remove any dust and grime that has gathered on the surface. If the surface of the canvas has sagged a little from the stretcher, the easiest way to tighten it up again is by spraying a little water onto the back of the canvas. As the water dries, the canvas will contract back to how it was when you painted it. The steps above should help with cleaning the majority of paintings. If however, you have something a little more delicate or the painting is damaged and in need of repair, it could be worth contacting a local art restorer who should be able to advise on how to help. Hopefully this has helped you restore your paintings to their former colourful glory!

Did you know that we do commissions? We really enjoy creating one-off pieces for clients and events. We had great fun splatting paint for a piece celebrating The Queens Platinum Jubilee. We also produced a special piece for a hen party. The French Bull dog is the bride's pup, and was a joy to create. Painting is what we do! If you would like to work with us for a private event, team event, hen party, birthday party, art workshop or to host your very own paint and sip at home, get in touch!

I started writing this over a week ago after listening to a podcast by Steven Bartlett. This one was with Johann Hari, they discussed focus, and how we are all losing it. If you’re interested the podcast is titled Diary of a CEO . They talked about the constant bombardment of notifications, emails, messages, social media, etc and the distractions they cause, which in turn leads to us being less able to focus. It has taken me over a week to write this because I, like most, am finding the terrible events taking place in Ukraine incredibly upsetting. It is hard to focus when something as awful as war is at the forefront of your mind. The podcast got me thinking. We receive some lovely feedback from people we work with about the sense of achievement they feel from completing a painting. Teams and individuals say how they enjoyed having the time to do something for themselves, to take on a new creative challenge and to relax. Creating is good for you, it relaxes the mind and body, we already knew that. What I hadn’t thought about was that people get so engrossed in our sessions that they don’t check their phones. At the end of the event they feel refreshed, relaxed, proud of themselves. Perhaps part of that is due to the fact that they have allowed themselves to get into the zone, or as Johann Hari suggested, a state of flow. Without the pressure to check emails and answer messages, they allowed their minds to wander and to create freely. How often do we allow ourselves time to completely switch off and focus on something fully? When was the last time you were in a flow state? The Headspace website describes a flow state or being in ‘the zone’, “as a “sense of fluidity between your body and mind, where you are totally absorbed by and deeply focused on something, beyond the point of distraction.” Can you remember the last time you allowed yourself to avoid any distraction and to be utterly absorbed by something? I try to have time away from my phone, to remind myself that I don’t always have to be doing something. The emails and messages can wait. I walk most days to give my mind a chance to escape, to slow down. The news, the weather and a general feeling of ‘meh’ has left me feeling less inspired than usual and my walks haven’t quite hit the spot. However, after a challenging boxing session yesterday I felt much clearer, less groggy. Turns out that punching a bag in a controlled way feels great. I definitely felt myself get into the zone. No phone, just me, my trainer and some gloves. At the end of the session I was reluctant to pick up my phone and re-engage with the world. In the same way that some turn to art, or painting, writing or running, the gym is my escape, my hour to myself. What can you do for yourself this week to unwind? I have recently started following Lessa Renee on instagram. Leesa’s most recent post is about how the information we are reading and watching at the moment might feel ‘too much’. How those who are highly sensitive and deep feeling may be feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. Leesa’s suggestions were to journal, to create, to amplify and to play. ( Here is the post . ) If you are feeling overwhelmed, give yourself permission to switch off, to disengage and to do something for you. Meditation, a walk, creating, writing, watching a film (without your phone next to you!), exercise, baking, something that fills you with a sense of calm, something that will help to calm your nervous system. Take some time for yourself, and perhaps it will bring back your focus. A place of calm and relaxation in the Italian Alps.