About Effy

From Darkness to Colour: How I Turned Pain into Purpose

In 2020, when the world shut down, so did I. Anxiety and depression crept in, wrapping around me like a fog I couldn’t escape. Every day felt heavier, every thought louder. I was drowning in a darkness that felt impossible to shake.

Then, one day, a therapist asked me a simple question: “What did you love as a child?” The answer came instantly—painting.

With nothing to lose, I picked up a brush for the first time in years. And for those few hours, the noise in my mind quieted. The world outside didn’t seem so overwhelming. I wasn’t thinking about the uncertainty, the stress, the weight of everything—I was just lost in the colours, in the movement of the brush, in the simple joy of creating.

Fast forward a few years, and though the world had moved on, I found myself stuck again—this time in a job I hated. Every day felt the same, draining and uninspiring. I knew I was meant for something more, something that didn’t just pay the bills but truly filled my soul.

And then it hit me—What if I could give others that same escape? That same joy?

That’s when my paint and sip events were born. Not just as a fun night out, but as a space where people can breathe, let go, and reconnect with themselves. A place where laughter and creativity flow as freely as the wine. Where people—no matter their skill level—can experience the magic of putting brush to canvas and walking away with something they created, something that reminds them: You are more than your stress. You are more than your to-do list. You are allowed to have fun.

This isn’t just a business to me. It’s my way of sharing what saved me. Because I know what it feels like to be lost—and I also know the power of finding yourself again, one brushstroke at a time.

So, when’s the last time you did something just for you?