The idea for Art Playground evolved from an outdoor painting workshops in Den Haag Netherlands, the original business was called “Paint N Sip”

Paint N Sip grew from a lifelong relationship with painting and the belief that art should be both meaningful and shared.

Paint N Sip expanded from a local paint n sip to a global one. As our community expanded we met artists and creators who wanted to come onboard whose talents and offerings outgrew the Pain N Sip model. We found that there were creative studios of all kinds, immersive experiences and extremely talented artists who can help us offer unique, value adding experiences all around the world.

About the founder:

Katie Houser began her academic journey studying Art History and Criticism at the University of Georgia, where she developed a deep understanding of artistic movements and contemporary practice. She later moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master of Fine Arts at Newcastle University, graduating with Distinction in 2022.

During this time she developed her studio practice while exhibiting internationally and working alongside respected artists including Christian Mieves, Narbi Price, Jane Millican, and Gaile Meeks. Her work received critical recognition from art writer Richard Grayson, who described her as “one of the most exciting artists in North East England.”

Alongside her artistic practice, she became deeply involved in supporting other artists — co-founding a gallery and collective within Hypha Studios and working in curatorial and mentoring roles with both emerging and established painters.

Through these experiences she saw how powerful painting could be when people were given the space to explore it together. Paint N Sip was created from that vision: bringing the richness of contemporary painting into a welcoming, social environment where creativity, conversation, and experimentation meet.

Today she continues to develop her own artistic practice while creating experiences that invite others into the world of painting.