
- Sep 2000Kathryn starts art-K Ashtead
- Sep 2010art-K Ashtead is 30% oversubscribed
- Jul 2016art-K Ltd launches, it starts launching franchises
- Mar 2017art-K Ewell Franchise launches, art-K is shortlisted for Working Mums Best Newcomer Award
- Apr 2017art-K Northwood Franchise launches
- Jun 2017art-K Tring Franchise launches
- Sep 2017art-K Worthing Franchise launches, art-K launch its first directly-owned branch, art-K Wimbledon
- Nov 2017art-K Dorking Direct Branch launches
- Apr 2018art-K Truro, art-K Teddington Franchises launch
- May 2018art-K Purley Direct Branch launches, art-K run an art workshop at Chessington World of Adventures in collaboration with NOA
- Jul 2018art-K is tutoring over 1000 students weekly
- Sep 2018art-K Hove Direct Branch launches
- Oct 2018art-K runs its first corporate event at OC&C Strategy Consultancy
- Nov 2018art-K Southville Franchise launch, art-K wins Small Business Sunday award with Theo Paphtis
- Apr 2019art-K Walton-on-Thames Direct Branch launches. art-K High Wycombe and art-K Horsforth Franchises launch
- May 2019art-K Clapham Direct Branch launches
- Jul 2019art-K wins CVC Young Innovators Award 2019 including a grant to set up an outreach programme
- Sep 2019art-K Worplesdon and art-K Winchester Franchises launch. art-K Carshalton, art-K Greenwich, art-K Fulham Direct Branches launch
- Sep 2019art-K is teaching over 1500 pupils
- Jan 2020art-K Maidstone, art-K Wandsworth, art-K Putney, art-K Horsham, art-K Beckenham Direct Branches Launch
- Feb 2020art-K is teaching over 2000 pupils
- Mar 2020art-K launches pre-recorded tutorials for at-home learning
- Apr 2020art-K is mentioned in The Sunday Times
- May 2020art-K launches live art classes via Zoom
- Jul 2020art-K returns to the studio and welcomes back our wonderful pupils, art-K is mentioned in The Guardian
- Aug 2020art-K is on ITV news discussing the positive impact art can have on children’s mental health
Kathryn starts art-K Ashtead
art-K Ashtead is 30% oversubscribed
art-K Ltd launches, it starts launching franchises
art-K Ewell Franchise launches, art-K is shortlisted for Working Mums Best Newcomer Award
art-K Northwood Franchise launches
art-K Tring Franchise launches
art-K Worthing Franchise launches, art-K launch its first directly-owned branch, art-K Wimbledon
art-K Dorking Direct Branch launches
art-K Truro, art-K Teddington Franchises launch
art-K Purley Direct Branch launches, art-K run an art workshop at Chessington World of Adventures in collaboration with NOA
art-K is tutoring over 1000 students weekly
art-K Hove Direct Branch launches
art-K runs its first corporate event at OC&C Strategy Consultancy
art-K Southville Franchise launch, art-K wins Small Business Sunday award with Theo Paphtis
art-K Walton-on-Thames Direct Branch launches. art-K High Wycombe and art-K Horsforth Franchises launch
art-K Clapham Direct Branch launches
art-K wins CVC Young Innovators Award 2019 including a grant to set up an outreach programme
art-K Worplesdon and art-K Winchester Franchises launch. art-K Carshalton, art-K Greenwich, art-K Fulham Direct Branches launch
art-K is teaching over 1500 pupils
art-K Maidstone, art-K Wandsworth, art-K Putney, art-K Horsham, art-K Beckenham Direct Branches Launch
art-K is teaching over 2000 pupils
art-K launches pre-recorded tutorials for at-home learning
art-K is mentioned in The Sunday Times
art-K launches live art classes via Zoom
art-K returns to the studio and welcomes back our wonderful pupils, art-K is mentioned in The Guardian
art-K is on ITV news discussing the positive impact art can have on children’s mental health

Our Story
Kathryn spent her life practicing art; drawing on every piece of paper she could get her hands on. She also wanted to have a career working with children, leading her to pursue Speech and Language Therapy at University (although some of her University interviewers were a bit taken aback when Kathryn asked if there was an art option during the course!)
Kathryn excelled as a Speech and Language Therapist in her chosen specialism; paediatrics. By her twenties, she was Head of Paediatrics at Epsom and Ewell NHS Trust, whilst continuing to sell her art on the side in exhibitions and shops. Although it was exciting to be given such responsibility, her managerial role dominated her time and took her away from what she truly loved; art and working with children.
Speed forwards a few years and Kathryn realised how limited the art resources were for her two daughters – Rebekah and Emily – at school. Kathryn decided to make the leap and channel her expertise into creating an age-based developmental art programme for children; somewhere she could teach her children – and others – how to grow their visual and artistic skills. art-K was formed.
Kathryn’s club went from strength to strength. After operating for 10 years in 2010, art-K Ashtead was 30% oversubscribed. People were travelling over an hour to reach art-K Ashtead as there was nothing like it in their area.
After graduating, Emily was on course to join an Investment Banking Department within a major bank. The challenging environment was exciting and a great experience, however she found the lack of autonomy and creativity limiting. She missed the connection to the real world and work that benefited real people.
Having started the art-K journey together in 2000, Kathryn and Emily decided their skills and experience could grow art-K into a national brand that represents the future of arts education. Since deciding to expand art-K in 2016, art-K has grown to 30+ clubs, teaches 2000+ students per week and employs over 100 artists.
None of this would have been possible without the third member of their team, David. David ran various companies for 20 years and helped mentor and develop art-K to create a company with a strong corporate governance. He drives areas such as health and safety, customer relations, new systems and many more.
Our goal is to ensure that every child or adult passionate about art has the opportunity to be a part of an art-K club in their local area. We’re looking to build a community of individuals who share a common passion and enthusiasm for creating art.
Our classes focus on building on the basic fundamental principles of art and using these skills as a foundation to build on to develop our student’s confidence in experimenting with all different artistic styles and mediums. That’s why our classes are tailored to each individual and open to everyone.

Sustainable Studios
We upcycle materials in projects to prevent them going to landfill. Teaching sustainability by example.

Renewable Energy
art-K studios are powered by Octopus Energy which is 100% green electricity.

Compostable Packaging
Jackson's provide our art-K branded materials and delivers them in compostable packaging with cellophane bags and styrofoam-style dissolvable packing peanuts made from sugar and starches.
Central Support


Meet the art-K Club Leaders





