Painting & Prosecco: A Night of Creativity, Connection & Community

Last week, we swapped our spreadsheet and SPAs for easels and paint brushes as we hosted a Painting & Prosecco Networking Evening as part of our Women Networking Differently Initiative.

As our 9th Women Networking Differently event, the afternoon brought together colleagues and connections from across the city for some light-hearted fun and enjoyable conversation.

Whether you were a seasoned painter or hadn't picked up a brush since school, everyone was in good hands with the very talented artist Jenni Stone. Jenni is an artist and art tutor with over 10 years experience teaching adults and young people a variety of art disciplines in community settings. This has included drawing, painting, collage and printmaking, providing guidance to be creative and develop arts skills in a supportive environment.  In a calm and informative style, Jenni explained the foundations of Matisse's artwork and gave us some starting steps for our own creations.

After the initial brush stroke and choice of colours, 15 people filled the room with enthusiasm and creativity as we put our own spin on a selection of well-known Matisse designs. I walked around the room to top up everyone's glasses. It was clear how much people were concentrating, and it was amazing to see how differently everyone interpreted the theme, with some opting for abstract colour play and others painting pastel designs.

As the prosecco and nibbles flowed, so did the conversations. It was a brilliant opportunity to connect with peers in a more informal setting, sparking new ideas for the following networking events and strengthening relationships across corporate, wealth and private client professionals.

In our earlier events, we asked our connections what we could do to support how Women Network Differently. Some practical points were made, such as varying the start times. A 4 pm start enabled those to attend their first event who may otherwise not have been able to make evenings. Our network suggested the idea of an Art class to move away from the traditional after-work drinks and promote inclusivity and well-being.

Events like this are more than just social gatherings. They remind us of the importance of taking time to unwind, express ourselves, and build community in the workplace.

We were also able to celebrate each other's success, and I'm pleased to say our very own Minsha Kapoor won the judges' choice on the day with her colourful creation.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to Joanna Sam, who helped organise the evening behind the scenes. Your efforts made it all possible.

We're already looking forward to the next event, a book club launch for the bestselling author of Born to Buzz, Laura Best.

Until then, we'll be cherishing the masterpieces created and the connections made.

About Women Networking Differently:

✨Women Networking Differently is a women-focused networking group, organising a range of inclusive events for women to network comfortably. We recognise that networking encompasses a diverse range of styles, activities and times and we cater our events to women’s lifestyles, preferences and personalities.

✨Our events are welcoming for women, including anyone who identifies as a woman, non-binary, or gender non-conforming. We further welcome allies who are committed to creating supportive environments for women.