Easy Guide to a Great Paint and Sip Party in the UK
I’ve been to a few paint and sip parties over the years – they’ve long been known here as “Paint and Wine” nights, though the term “Sip and Paint” seems to have taken over lately (probably because not everyone wants wine – gin, Prosecco, or even a nice elderflower cordial work just as well!).
I’ve always found these evenings are genuinely brilliant fun. There’s loads of chatter, surprising creativity comes out of people who swear blind they can’t hold a paintbrush, and you end up going home with an actual piece of artwork – even if it does look a bit abstract. Here’s my complete guide to hosting your own painting night, whether you’re planning a birthday do, a hen night, or just a fun get-together with friends.
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🎨 Free Printable! Scroll down to grab your free Sip & Paint Party Planning Checklist – perfect for keeping everything on track!
1. Picking Your Date, Time, and Venue
Start here – it seems obvious, but getting the date right is everything. Think about whether your guests have work the next day, and whether a Friday or Saturday evening works best for your crowd.
Venue options:
- Your own home – Perfectly doable, but lay down plenty of dust sheets (old bedsheets work too) because acrylic paint and carpets are not friends. Clear a dining table or set up folding tables if you need more room.
- Your local pub – Many pubs with function rooms are happy to hire them out for private events, especially on quieter nights. It’s how most of the ones I’ve been to are organised, and it works a treat.
- Village hall or community centre – Great for larger groups. Usually inexpensive to hire and you can bring your own drinks.
- A local art studio – More and more UK studios now offer ready-made paint and sip events with an instructor included. Search “paint and sip near me” or check local Facebook groups and Eventbrite to find one in your area.
Dust sheets
will be essential if you’re hosting at home – they’ll protect your furniture and flooring. You can pick them up cheaply on Amazon or in any DIY shop.
2. Sending Your Invitations
Points 2 and 3 work best together – it helps to have your painting theme in mind before you send the invites, so guests know what they’re in for and get excited!
Whether you go for printed invitations, a digital invite, or a simple WhatsApp message will depend on your group. For a more special occasion like a birthday, a proper printed invite sets the tone beautifully.
Personalised invitations – Look on Etsy or Zazzle for paint and sip party invitations you can personalise with your own details. There are some really lovely designs, from elegant wine-and-brush themes to fun animal illustrations.
Top tip: Include on the invite what to wear – old clothes or a designated “painting shirt” – so no one turns up in their best outfit and panics when they get a splash of cadmium red on it.
Personalised invitations
Get some invites that suit your style. If you’ve read any of my blogs you will know I love animals, so this cute painting couple are my type of invitations.
Digital invitations
Great to get the invites out quickly.
3. Choose a Theme or Painting Subject
This is the fun part! Decide on what everyone will paint – and don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be complicated. The best paint and sip party paintings are ones that look impressive but are achievable for complete beginners.
Popular painting themes to try:
- 🌸 Flowers (sunflowers, poppies, botanicals)
- 🌙 Moon and night sky / Northern Lights
- 🦊 Animals (foxes, owls, cats – always popular!)
- 🏡 Cosy cottage or British countryside scene
- 🍷 Wine glass / bottle with a twist
- 🎃 Seasonal themes – pumpkins for autumn, robins for Christmas
- 🌊 Abstract seascape (surprisingly easy and looks fab)
Where to find painting instructions:
- Downloadable video tutorials on Etsy – These are brilliant for self-hosted events. You buy a downloadable video and play it on a laptop or TV for everyone to follow along.
- YouTube – Search “easy acrylic painting tutorial beginners” and you’ll find hundreds of free step-by-step videos.
- Pre-sketched canvases – You can buy canvases with a design already lightly sketched on, which takes a lot of the intimidation out of it.
- Hire a local artist – If you want a proper instructor, post in local Facebook groups or search Etsy for “paint and sip instructor UK” – there are artists who’ll come to you.
Video and instructions for party
These downloadable videos are a great help at a self hosted event.
Printables for your party
Some images to use would be useful.
The whole kit
These Paint and Sip party kits would make it a lot easier – these ones here contain:
-WHAT’S IN THE BOX
———————————-
💗 1 x Easle Stands per person
💗 1 x Paint Pallets
💗 1 x Canvases (20x20cm)
💗 1 x Sketching Pencils
💗 6 x Paints
💗 6 x Paint Brushes
💗 1 xColour Wheel
4. Gather Your Painting Supplies
If you’re self-hosting, you’ll need to sort all the art supplies yourself. Here’s what you’ll need per person:
- Canvas (A4 or 20x20cm is a good size for beginners – not so large it becomes overwhelming)
- Acrylic paints – a basic set of 6–12 colours is plenty
- Paintbrushes – a small selection of sizes (flat, round, and a fine detail brush)
- Palette or paper plate for mixing colours
- Easel (optional but makes it feel more “official” – small tabletop ones are fine)
- Water pot for rinsing brushes
- Apron or old shirt – disposable aprons work well
- Paper towels – lots of them
The easy option: Paint and sip party kits are available on Etsy and contain almost everything you need in one box. Some even include a canvas with a sketch already on it, step-by-step instruction cards, and a link to a video tutorial. They’re genuinely brilliant value and take all the faff out of sourcing everything separately.
5. Sort the Drinks (the “Sip” Bit!)
No sip and paint party is complete without something lovely to drink. You don’t need a full bar – just a good selection so everyone has something they enjoy.
Drink ideas:
- 🥂 Prosecco or Cava – always goes down well
- 🍷 Red and white wine – a couple of bottles of each
- 🍸 A simple gin and tonic station – very on-trend and easy to set up
- 🍹 Pimm’s (in summer – perfect garden party option)
- 🫐 Non-alcoholic options – elderflower cordial, sparkling water, alcohol-free gin or prosecco (Seedlip, Nozeco, etc. are great UK options)
- 🍺 Beer or cider for those who prefer it
Food to go alongside: Keep it simple – nibbles and finger food work best so guests can paint and eat without too much fuss. Think crisps, cheese and crackers, grapes, olives, sausage rolls, and maybe a charcuterie board.
Paper Cups
Don’t get the paper cups and water cups mixed up!
6. Set Up the Space
Lay everything out before your guests arrive so the evening flows smoothly. Here’s a simple setup checklist:
- Cover all tables with dust sheets or tablecloths
- Set up each place with: canvas, palette, brushes, water pot, paper towels
- Display the reference image somewhere everyone can see it (a TV screen, printed A4 sheets at each place, or a printout on a board at the front)
- Set up a separate drinks and snacks station away from the painting area
- Have a bin bag handy for used paper towels, etc.
- Cue up some background music – something relaxed but fun
Lighting tip: If you’re doing this in the evening, make sure the room is well lit. Dim, atmospheric lighting looks lovely but is actually terrible for painting!
7. On the Night – Keep It Fun and Low-Pressure
This is the step that was missing from most guides I’ve read, and it’s probably the most important! The key to a brilliant sip and paint party is keeping the atmosphere relaxed and making sure everyone knows it doesn’t matter how their painting turns out.
A few tips for the night:
- Start with a fun ice-breaker – ask everyone to introduce their “painting persona” (e.g. “Monet vibes” vs “abstract expressionist”)
- Take a mid-session break – about halfway through, pause for a top-up and a gossip. This relieves any tension and everyone relaxes into the second half.
- Encourage “happy accidents” – if someone makes a mistake, help them turn it into a feature. A blob becomes a bush. A wobbly line becomes a wave.
- No comparing! Gently discourage people from holding their canvas up against their neighbour’s. Everyone’s version is valid.
- Play music that fits the vibe – a playlist of French café music, lo-fi chill, or classic pop all work beautifully.
Paint by Numbers
Try a paint by numbers to get you in the mood. I love this one.
8. The Grand Reveal and Gallery Display
Once everyone has finished, this is the best bit – line all the paintings up for a “gallery” moment. It’s always hilarious and lovely in equal measure.
Ideas for the gallery display:
- Prop canvases along a windowsill, mantelpiece, or against a wall
- Hang them with mini pegs on a piece of twine for an impromptu washing-line gallery
- Vote for categories: “Most Like the Original,” “Most Abstract,” “Most Likely to Sell at the Tate”
Make sure you take photos before everyone takes their paintings home! A group photo with everyone holding up their artwork is a brilliant memento.
Kitchen Roll!
May I suggest getting loads of kitchen roll in, you won’t regret it!
🎨 Free Printable: Sip & Paint Party Planning Checklist
To help you organise everything, I’ve put together a free printable party planning checklist. It covers everything from booking your venue to setting up on the night. Print it out, stick it on your fridge, and tick things off as you go!
Quick Reference: What You’ll Need
Per Person:
- 1 canvas (A4 or 20x20cm recommended)
- Acrylic paints (shared sets of 6–12 colours work fine)
- 3–4 brushes (various sizes)
- 1 palette or paper plate
- Water pot
- Paper towels
- Apron
For the Room:
- Dust sheets / tablecloths
- Reference image displayed where everyone can see
- Drinks and snacks station
- Bin bags
- Background music sorted
Optional but Lovely:
- Tabletop easels
- Personalised invitations
- Party-themed paper cups and plates
- A small prize for the “best” painting
Have you hosted a paint and sip party? I’d love to hear how it went – drop a comment below!
Looking for more adult party ideas? Check out our guides to hosting a Cheese and Wine Party, a Cocktail Night, and a Murder Mystery Dinner Party.
