Hi, I'm Kayleigh.

 

I'm the Founder of The Journey of the Secret Artist, and I'm so pleased you've found us!

 

Like many people, I've loved being creative for as long as I can remember.

Art has been part of my life since childhood, over the years I've explored creativity through life drawing classes, workshops, education and by trying as many different creative hobbies as I can get my hands on.

From drawing cartoons and painting with acrylics, to scrapbooking, crafting and experimenting with new techniques, I simply love making things.

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But the truth is...

 

This business wasn't created because I wanted to teach art.

It was created because I wanted to bring people together.

 

As adults, making friends can feel surprisingly difficult.

Life gets busy, people move away, families grow, careers change and suddenly it becomes much harder to meet new people.

 

I regularly saw people asking where they could go to make genuine friendships, and I realised there weren't many places where you could simply turn up, relax and see the same friendly faces each month.

 

Before starting this business, I worked in care supporting people from all walks of life. One thing stayed with me throughout those years—loneliness affects far more people than we often realise.

 

Many people simply wanted someone to talk to.

Someone to laugh with.

Somewhere to belong.

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That experience inspired me to create something different.

I wanted to build a place where creativity could become the excuse to spend time together.

 

Where people could slow down after a busy week, put their phones away for a couple of hours and enjoy creating alongside others.

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Where complete beginners would feel just as welcome as experienced artists.

Where nobody worries about being "good enough".

Because, honestly, I don't believe there's any such thing.

 

One of the things that's most important to me is that our workshops never feel like a classroom. I don't want there to be a teacher at the front and students sitting quietly copying what they're told to do. Instead, I imagine a room full of people chatting over a cup of tea, sharing ideas, helping one another, celebrating each other's successes and discovering that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

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We'll all have different strengths.

We'll all make mistakes.

We'll all keep learning together.

That's exactly how creativity should feel.

 

 

Outside of the workshops, you'll usually find me reading a good book, tending to my garden, looking after my chickens and ducks, wandering around National Trust gardens, browsing garden centres or enjoying a slice of cake with a pot of tea.

 

I love museums, art galleries, travelling, concerts and music, DIY projects and spending time in nature. I think those quiet moments of creativity and curiosity are some of life's greatest pleasures, and I hope the workshops capture a little of that same feeling.

 

My dream is for The Journey of the Secret Artist to become much more than a workshop.

I hope it becomes a community.

 

A place where people recognise familiar faces. Where friendships grow naturally. Where confidence quietly returns. Where creativity becomes something to look forward to every month. And where everyone leaves feeling just a little happier than when they arrived.

 

If that's the kind of place you've been searching for, I'd love to welcome you to one of our workshops.

 

I can't wait to meet you, Secret Artist!