From painting picnics and Sip & Paint sessions to customisation workshops, residents and visitors come together in relaxed settings designed around creativity and shared experiences
In a region where the beach and dining out still dominate the leisure scene, Creative Escape offers an alternative centred on creativity and shared experiences.
Currently celebrating its first anniversary, the project organises painting picnics, Sip & Paint sessions and customisation workshops, bringing together residents and visitors of different nationalities in relaxed, welcoming settings.
Behind the initiative are Odiáxere-native Carolina and Elena, who arrived in the Algarve from Kharkiv, Ukraine, four years ago following the outbreak of war. The pair met whilst working at the same café in the centre of Lagos, where they discovered shared interests that would eventually inspire the project.
The idea came about quite naturally, when they both happened to have the same day off and were looking for something to do.
“We wanted to do something different from the usual leisure activities you find in Portugal – going to the beach, having dinner at a restaurant or meeting friends at a bar…” they recall.
They met for brunch before heading to the beach with easels, paints and canvases. Rather than each painting their own canvas, they decided to swap every five minutes, picking up where the other left off. “It was such a fun and unique experience. Time flew by, and we realised how much we had genuinely enjoyed those few hours together.”
What began as an afternoon between friends soon showed the potential to become something more. Shortly afterwards, they organised their first painting picnic in Lagos, initially intended for a small group of friends.
Photos shared on social media quickly caught the attention of both residents and visitors, giving rise to a project that has continued to grow ever since. Elena’s background in marketing and Carolina’s experience in hospitality and customer service proved to be a natural complement.
Art has been part of both their lives since childhood. Carolina remembers making jewellery with her friends, whilst Elena attended drawing and painting classes.
Today, that shared passion has become the starting point for experiences where creativity serves primarily as a way to slow down, meet new people and spend quality time together.
“Through our experiences, we give people the opportunity to be present, create something with their own hands and simply relax for a few hours. Even for us, as the founders, Creative Escape has become a form of therapy,” says Carolina.
“For Elena especially, the project became a safe place to heal after everything she experienced because of the war in Ukraine.”
Rather than teaching painting techniques, Creative Escape places the emphasis on the experience itself. The aim is not to create a perfect work of art, but to provide a relaxed environment where creativity can flourish without pressure. “We want people to leave feeling happier, lighter and inspired, regardless of whether they’ve ever painted before. For us, it’s never about the final artwork.
It’s about how people feel whilst creating it and the memories they take home afterwards,” they explain.
The programme includes painting on canvas, tote bags, candles, wine glasses, travel mugs and T-shirts, as well as seasonal activities such as Christmas decoration workshops and floral arrangement sessions.
Public events are held regularly in partnership with cafés, bars and outdoor venues, welcoming small groups in an informal atmosphere.
Private sessions are designed for birthdays, hen do’s and team-building events, with every experience tailored to each group’s preferences, from the venue and décor to the activities themselves.
Each session lasts approximately one and a half to two hours and is open to teenagers and adults. And despite the international mix of participants, language is never a barrier.
“Creativity doesn’t depend on the language you speak or where you come from. We’ve welcomed both locals and visitors from all over the world, and we’ve seen how art naturally brings people together,” they say.
As it enters its second year, Creative Escape continues to offer experiences that combine artistic expression, social connection and well-being, with upcoming events announced on its Instagram page.
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