Painting Memories in Sri Lanka: An Evening with a Local Family

In February, I had the privilege of hosting a Paint Lab workshop at the home of a local family in Beruwala, Sri Lanka. This wasn’t a formal event or a large group gathering - it was something more intimate and meaningful. We gathered together in their home, across different ages and generations, from children through to adults.For many of them, this was the very first time they had ever picked up a paintbrush.

To witness the mixture of excitement and focus and creativity was such a special moment. Watching the younger ones explore paint so freely while the adults rediscovered a childlike joy in creating was incredibly moving.

From the beginning, my vision for Paint Lab has always been about more than just running workshops. I wanted it to be a way to give back to communities, to break down barriers and to remind people that art belongs to everyone. Ability is just a word - what really matters is the feeling. Art is not about producing something perfect, but about connecting with yourself and others and enjoying the freedom of expression.

That evening in Beruwala felt like a small but powerful step in that vision. During my time in Sri Lanka, I noticed that art is not as widely explored or prioritised in schools as it is here. This really reminded me how fortunate we are to grow up with art and other creative subjects embedded into our education. Having access to creativity from a young age not only develops skills but also gives students an outlet for expression and wellbeing.

For me, there is often too much formality around art - too many rules, judgments, and expectations. But experiences like this remind us that art is simply something to be enjoyed. To sit together, paint side by side and see each person leave with a sense of pride in what they created. This workshop in Sri Lanka will stay with me as a reminder of why I started this journey: because art is for everyone.