Fancy getting messy at your hen do? Amy Shearer and the TTKS team tried a new ‘arty party’ venue in Glasgow
Hen parties in Glasgow city centre can get messy. Not messy as in “the maid of honour has had one too many ’seccos and thinks she’s Scotland’s answer to Tina Turner on the dance floor”, but messy as in the “you will need to wear a plastic poncho and overshoes” kind of way.
That might sound like you’re taking your hens on a log flume at a theme park, but we’re actually talking about the city’s hottest new art venue, Splatter Art Studios on Osborne Street, a stone’s throw from the Trongate. It’s run by Ellie Hair and Klaudyna Berbec, who promise “Scotland’s first contemporary action-packed and immersive painting experience” – and that’s the kind of thing this magazine can’t resist. We went along to check it out, and I can honestly say we were referring to ourselves as a gaggle of Jackson Pollock(shaw)s by the end of the session.
We were made to feel very welcome by Ellie and her husband Euan. (They also own – eeek! – escape rooms in Glasgow, so they understand what’s involved in hosting group activities.) Equipped with our blank canvases and dressed in protective gear, it was time to get started. The rules are simple: don’t mix the pots of colour, use the studio and its goodies if you’re feeling inspired, and give your fellow painters plenty of warning if you’re about the fire the ‘splatter gun’.
Soundtracked by a selection of pop classics, we quickly got into the splattering spirit. Editor Beth leaned into abstract expressionism, our digital content creator Hazel created a paw-some sausage dog canvas, staff writer Nicole was inspired by all things citrus, and I paid tribute to Kylie Minogue’s new song that I really can’t get out of my head.
The studio offers ‘sip and splatter’ packages for up to 13 guests at £35 a head, which includes exclusive use of the studio, all materials and a big ‘collaboration canvas’ for everyone to paint. After a few tipples (bonus: there’s no corkage charge if you BYOB), you might come up with something to rival Banksy at GoMA.
Splatter Art is the first of its kind in the UK and, judging by the laughs we had, well worth a visit for all budding Frida Kahlos with a celebration in the pipeline.
Now, where are the picture hooks…
