“Creativity takes courage.”

Henri Matisse

It all begins with an idea.

Maybe you want to recreate something, maybe you get the urge to draw, to paint, to make. The visual floods your mind and excitement builds. You start making.

Then, reality doesn’t meet expectation. You become engrossed in perfecting every detail. It isn’t lining up. It doesn’t match. You start to doubt your skill and say, maybe this isn’t for me. Was that teacher right? What was supposed to be enjoyable is becoming stressful.

Sound like you? This was exactly what I felt.

I’m Mim and I’m Paint & Sip UK’s owner and founder. The turn of this story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. In 2018, I got fed up of feeling I lacked skill, that I would hit the wall every time I felt creative. Could only the talented make art? Why did everyone else’s look better than mine? Did I need to have such refined skill to enjoy the making process? I knew there had to be another way. I wasn’t giving up on something I enjoyed because it didn’t fit into the right box!

Through studying Fine Art and reflecting on a career of conflict management, trauma informed care and mental health. I combined my social, psychological and art training into one.

My own artistic practice became the template for Paint and Sip, with a blindfold on, a beverage in hand, I went for it.

The Beginning

Our first workshop was held on Thursday 31st January 2019 at The Slamwich Club, Hanley. An abstract Painting class all about exploring your creative side in an open and relaxed environment. Over two-hours with the opportunity to test out creativity with paint, without a set image or guidelines. No skills or experience were required as it was all down to personal expression and individuality. The night was guided through demonstrations, informative talks and independent practice to create. With a supportive group of friends and local businesses willing to give us a chance, we flourished.

Initially self-expressive workshops backed up by psychoanalytical theory are now National Themed Events. We’ve now expanded into Incorporating a holistic approach to making art with guidance, informative talks demonstrations, learning and psychoanalytical theories.

We’ve worked outside, in the community and with a variety of venues.

We’re setting wheels in motion and have some wild plans for 2023.

We deliver live demonstrations, festival pop ups, private parties and events including Life Drawing & Automatic Drawing.

We’re fully insured to let you go wild, shoot paint from fire extinguisher’s and release that inner creative.

Extract the Abstract.