How to enjoy the benefits of art even if you’re not a dab hand with a brush

Painting has myriad benefits, from relieving stress and strengthening memory to building problem-solving skills and increasing emotional intelligence. But what if your artistic endeavours haven’t progressed beyond the stick man you perfected as a five-year-old – do you have to forego all that good stuff just because you’re not a dab hand with a brush?

The answer is a resounding no. It’s partly thanks to a social phenomenon that originated in the US and has now spread across the globe. Paint Nites, as they were originally called, aren’t serious art classes but aim to encourage novices to unleash their creativity in a fun atmosphere. Led by qualified artists, students are taught to deconstruct a painting and then copy each brushstroke their mentor makes to gradually build up a completed canvas. Basically it’s painting by numbers, minus the numbers.

The popularity of such workshops has been largely driven by 20-to 30-year-olds, who prefer to spend their hard-earned cash on experiences to mark special occasions, rather than material items. As word spread, so did the range of participants – these days you’re as likely to find couples on a night out or workmates on a team-building activity as you are solo painters of all ages. One of the most successful of these workshops in the UK is PopUp Painting*, established by Gareth Lewis Shelton and his wife Phyllissa. Neither is a professional artist, but the pair launched their business in 2013 after sampling a class across the pond in Boston. ‘When we went along, we were really surprised by how much we loved it,’ says Gareth. ‘We thought that if non-artists like us could take part and enjoy the experience, then similarly lots of others could do the same.