A Vision for a New Creative Space in Portsmouth
Our Vision
We are looking to find a permanent, purpose designed fine art space.
A place for:
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Learning, wellbeing, and skill building
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Collaboration between artists, tutors, and the wider community
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Exhibitions, talks, and public events
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This space will also host workshops led by leading artists from across the UK and internationally, bringing fresh perspectives into Portsmouth.
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These visiting artists will:
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Enrich the local creative ecosystem
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Attract visitors and cultural tourism
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Strengthen Portsmouth’s reputation as a city that values arts and learning
This aligns directly with the city’s ambitions to grow its cultural profile and build towards City of Culture aspirations.
Why This Matters
Across the UK, skills based art education is being lost. Fine art departments are closing, hands-on teaching is rare, and access is increasingly limited.
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At the same time, the need for creative spaces that support wellbeing, confidence, and connection has never been greater. Paint & Draw Atelier exists to meet that need.
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We nurture skill, creativity, and community for everyone.
"AT PAINT & DRAW ATELIER WE NURTURE SKILL, CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY"
Who We Are
Paint & Draw Atelier was founded by fine artists Ella Kilgour and Katie Munro.
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We offer high quality training in drawing and painting, grounded in traditional representational practice and open to contemporary approaches. We combine traditional skills with contemporary thinking.
From our base at the Round Tower, Hotwalls Studios, we have built a welcoming, inclusive community, bringing together people of different ages, backgrounds, and experience levels through shared creative practice.
The Round Tower has been our testing ground.
The response has been clear: people want this, and Portsmouth needs it.
"WE COMBINE TRADITIONAL SKILLS WITH COMTEMPORARY THINKING".
What We Do
We create opportunities for:
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Skill development through drawing and painting
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Creative confidence and personal growth
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Social connection, focus, and wellbeing
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Our programme includes:
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Courses and weekend workshops
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Regular life drawing sessions
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One to one tuition
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Artist mentorship and professional development
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Everything we do is practical, hands on and rooted in learning together.
"EVERYTHING WE DO IS PRACTICAL, HANDS ON AND ROOTED IN LEARNING TOGETHER"
Why We're Different
Portsmouth currently has no dedicated fine art centre focused on representational drawing and painting.
Paint & Draw Atelier fills that gap, but our ambition goes further.
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We are building a space that is:
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Inclusive and accessible, not exclusive
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Rooted in community, not institutions
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Focused on skills, not trends​
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Studios such as Draw Brighton, Raw Umber (Stroud), and The Drawing Room (Worthing) show how this model can strengthen local identity and transform a city’s creative life.
Portsmouth is ready for the same and well placed to lead.
"THIS MODEL CAN STRENGTHEN LOCAL IDENTITY AND TRANSFORM A CITY'S CREATIVE LIFE"
What We've Proven
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In a limited space, we have already
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Built a loyal, growing and diverse creative community
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Delivered consistent, high-quality teaching
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Collaborated with local artists and models
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Run outreach projects that extend creativity beyond the studio
We are now outgrowing the Round Tower and looking for a permanent venue for an art school.
"LOYAL, GROWING AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY"
What We Need
To realise this vision, we are seeking support from the council, local businesses, and community partners.
We are looking for:
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A permanent venue with capacity for up to 30 artists
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Good natural light, water, heating, Wi-Fi, and toilets
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Accessible parking
We can contribute financially and manage the space ourselves, but commercial rents make this impossible without partnership.
With the right support, we can create a sustainable, inclusive fine art centre that delivers long-term cultural, social, and economic value for Portsmouth.
"WE CAN CREATE A SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE FINE ART CENTRE"
Lets Build This Together
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Paint & Draw Atelier is ready to grow.
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This is an opportunity to:
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Invest in skills, wellbeing, and community
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Support Portsmouth’s cultural ambitions
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Create a space that is open, welcoming, and genuinely transformative
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We would welcome the opportunity to explore how this vision can be realised together.
Links
Website: www.paintanddrawatelier.com
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Instagram: @paintanddrawatelier
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Email: paintdrawatelier@gmail.com
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Artists Websites: www.ellakilgour.com
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Artist Websites: www.katiemunroart.co.uk