Guided painting workshops that bring people together.

Painting People

Painting experiences for teams, groups and gatherings — designed to spark conversation, curiosity and shared focus. No art skills required.

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Teams participating in a guided painting workshop, focusing on their art projects at tables with easels.
Team member painting in a guided painting workshop, with a portrait of a woman on a canvas.
A group of people participating in a guided painting workshop, sitting and standing around tables with easels, creating portraits and artwork on canvases in a well-lit room.
A team member sitting painting at an easel with an art palette and paintbrushes, with another person in the foreground.
A team participating in a guided painting workshop, sitting at easels, with a female instructor standing at the front, demonstrating techniques, in a well-lit room with large windows.
A group of women painting on canvases at an art class.
A group of women painting portraits on canvases, with some women working on their paintings and others observing and smiling at each other in a bright, indoor studio.

About Painting People

  • Painting People is a pop-up painting studio for groups - a guided creative experience that travels to your workplace, event or gathering.

    We transform workplaces, hotels, studios and gathering spaces into temporary painting studios where people can slow down and make something together. Much of modern life happens quickly and on screens. Meetings are efficient but often fleeting. Painting introduces a different rhythm. With brushes in hand, attention settles. Conversation becomes easier. People begin to look more closely - at the subject, the process and sometimes each other.

    No artistic experience is required. Most people arrive convinced they “can’t paint”. With a little guidance, that usually changes. We bring everything needed - canvases, easels, paints and materials - and guide the group through a relaxed painting session. By the end of the event, the room is filled with colour, conversation and a set of unexpected paintings.

  • Painting asks for a different kind of attention. In daily life, most conversations happen while people are looking at screens, notes or presentations. Painting shifts that focus. When hands are occupied with brushes and colour, the pace changes. People look more closely, think more slowly and often speak more openly. It is a simple activity, but it creates the conditions for reflection, curiosity and unexpected connection. That shift - from thinking about things to making something together - sits at the heart of Painting People.

  • Painting People works in many different settings. A research group exploring ideas from a new perspective. A leadership cohort stepping away from slides and strategy. Colleagues meeting in person after months on screens. A hotel offering guests a thoughtful creative experience. Friends gathering to mark a milestone. The context changes, but the idea is the same: a shared creative activity that invites people to slow down and engage differently. It is not about artistic ability. It is about what happens when a group gives its attention to something simple, tactile and absorbing.

    Painting People sessions are often hosted by:

    • Leadership and executive programmes

    • Universities and research groups

    • Creative teams and organisations

    • Hotels and cultural institutions

    • Private groups marking milestones or gatherings

  • Painting People was founded by artist Chloé Nelson. Chloé is co-founder of Roofless Painters in Los Angeles, a nomadic art collective that has collaborated with organisations including Netflix, WeWork, The Getty and Four Seasons. Her work focuses on portraiture, facilitation and the creative process as a way of helping groups connect, reflect and explore ideas together.

  • How many people can take part?

    Sessions usually work best with 10–20 participants, although smaller and larger groups can be accommodated depending on the space and format.

    What happens during a session?

    Each session is a guided painting experience designed to be relaxed and accessible. At the start, participants are introduced to the materials and the theme for the session. This might be portraiture, still life, landscape, abstraction or a concept connected to the purpose of the gathering. The group then begins painting, with gentle guidance throughout. People work at their own pace, experimenting with colour and observation. Conversation tends to flow naturally while hands are busy. By the end of the session, the space has shifted. Easels are filled with paintings and the group has shared an experience that feels both creative and reflective.

    Can sessions be tailored to themes or purpose?

    Yes. Some groups explore portraiture or observational painting. Others use painting as a way to reflect on a theme connected to their work, community or event. Sessions can be designed to support creativity, reflection, storytelling, wellbeing or connection.

    How long does a session last?

    Sessions are typically offered in half-day formats (around 3 hours) or full-day experiences. The format can also be adapted for conferences, retreats or multi-day programmes.

    Where can sessions take place?

    Painting People travels to you. Sessions can take place in workplaces, hotels, universities, studios, private homes or event spaces - anywhere with enough room to set up easels and tables. We transform the space into a temporary painting studio for the session. Sessions can be hosted across the UK, and internationally by request. Your group simply arrives and begins.

    What's included?

    Everything needed for the session is provided.

    • Canvases, paints, brushes and art materials

    • Easels and aprons

    • Thoughtful, inclusive facilitation

    • Full setup and clean-up

    • Half-day and full-day formats

    Do participants need painting experience?

    No experience is required. Sessions are designed for beginners as well as people who already enjoy painting. The guidance provided focuses on observation, experimentation and process rather than technical perfection. Most participants are surprised by what they are able to create.

  • If you’re interested in hosting a Painting People session, feel free to get in touch. Most sessions begin with a short conversation about your group, the space available, and the kind of experience you would like to create. From there we can suggest a format and theme for the session.

Gather. Paint. Connect.

In a Painting People session, people slow down and step into a shared creative space. Brushes in hand, attention shifts, curiosity emerges, and imagination finds its own way. Conversation flows, ideas spark, and the simple act of making becomes unexpectedly restorative.

It’s not really about painting. It’s about being present, exploring, and discovering something together.

ENQUIRE ABOUT A SESSION
A woman sitting on a wooden stool and painting on an easel with a brush.

  • "It was so relaxing and surprisingly restorative. Focusing on something meaningful without any pressure felt amazing. Loved it! I’d happily do another session and wish we had even more time."

    —Lawyer, London

  • "Absolutely wonderful, so absorbing and totally in the moment! You might even surprise yourself with what you create! Can’t wait for next time."

    —Teacher, London

  • “A deeply engaging and impactful session that helped my team be present, connect with one another, and reflect meaningfully. The facilitation supported intuitive, pressure‑free participation, and we look forward to future sessions!”

    —Editor, London

  • "This workshop helped me let go of perfectionism and enjoy the painting process. I really valued the guidance and support throughout. I’d definitely encourage others to give it a try."

    Student, London

  • "This painting session felt profoundly instinctive and deeply visceral. It was like the act of painting bypassed conscious thought and went straight to the parts of us that feel, remember, and release. It really reminded me of how transformative creative expression can be. Thank you for guiding such a moving and powerful experience."

    Clinical Psychologist, London

  • "We’re always looking for things that lift the team — and this really did. We ran a few sessions so everyone could join in, and the feedback was relaxed, creative and just really fun. We’ll definitely be having them back."

    Head of People & Performance, London

  • "I was surprised by how unintimidating the workshop felt. I left feeling relaxed and genuinely proud of what I’d created. The facilitator was incredibly kind and encouraging, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable."

    Student, London

A woman painting pleinair in a green garden, standing alongside multiple easels with her palette in hand, surrounded by trees and a distant view of buildings on a hillside.