Our story
Paintvine was born from a simple idea: to bring people together through creativity, connection, and a good glass of wine.
The concept was first introduced to New Zealand in 2017 by founders Alex Hamilton and Denym Bird, inspired by the paint-and-sip movement overseas. What began as a single trial event quickly grew into something much bigger, with events selling out and a community of fun-loving “apprentice artists” forming across the country.
As Paintvine grew, Alex and Denym stepped back from the business to pursue other opportunities. While no longer involved in day-to-day operations, Denym remains an active part of the wider Paintvine team, continuing to support the business through digital marketing support.
Bringing people together through art
Fast forward to today, and Paintvine now hosts thousands of guests every month in cities throughout New Zealand, offering relaxed, social painting experiences that are designed for everyone — no experience required.
In 2024, the business was purchased by Rotorua-based Tabitha Ramsay. Due to serious health challenges, Tabitha later made the difficult decision to step back from the business. Paintvine has since remained proudly based in Rotorua and is now owned and operated by Rotorua-based artist Sarah McAlpine.
Today, Paintvine is a female-led New Zealand business, continuing its mission to make creativity accessible, social, and fun. Alongside our public events, we also specialise in customised corporate and private events, tailoring each experience to suit teams, celebrations, and larger groups.
From first brushstroke to final masterpiece, Paintvine is about more than painting — it’s about connection, confidence, and creating something memorable together.
Meet the owner
Sarah McAlpine is the owner of Paintvine and a Rotorua-based artist, designer, and creative business owner with a strong background in both education and the arts.
Sarah is well known for her illustrated designs, which feature across a range of products including custom cups, drinkware, and Spoonflower fabric designs, with her patterns enjoyed by customers in New Zealand and internationally. Her creative work is playful, colourful, and designed to bring joy into everyday life — a philosophy that naturally extends into the Paintvine experience.
Before taking ownership of Paintvine, Sarah worked as a registered teacher in Early Childhood Education and spent three years as the Lead Artist for Paintvine in Rotorua. This hands-on experience gave her a deep understanding of both the creative and operational sides of the business, as well as the needs of artists and guests alike.
From Lead Artist to Owner — Sarah’s journey with Paintvine began on the floor, guiding guests brushstroke by brushstroke
Sarah loves that Paintvine gives its artists the flexibility to work around family life, supporting a healthy work–life balance while doing creative, meaningful work. She is passionate about providing a fun, laid-back job for artists, grounded in strong teamwork, encouragement, and genuine support.
Paintvine artists are supported every step of the way, with Sarah backed by a highly experienced support office that ensures events run smoothly and artists feel confident, prepared, and valued.
As a female-led New Zealand business, Paintvine continues to operate proudly from Rotorua, focused on creativity, connection, and supporting artists to thrive both personally and professionally.
Our Support Office team
Behind every Paintvine event is a dedicated Support Office team working together to make sure our artists feel supported and our events run seamlessly.
Most of our Support Office team — with the exception of Jim — began their Paintvine journey as Lead Artists, which means they have an intimate understanding of how our events run and what artists need to feel confident and prepared. We’re proud to encourage growth within our team, supporting staff to develop new skills and step into new roles as their journey with Paintvine evolves.
At the heart of the Support Office is Sarah McAlpine, Owner and Operations Manager. Sarah oversees the artist community and employment, private events, and venue relationships, ensuring Paintvine remains a supportive, flexible, and a people-first place to work. Her focus is on creating strong systems, open communication, and a positive experience for both artists and guests.
Together, the Support Office works as a close-knit team
Helen Emmett looks after marketing, the Paintvine website, and social media. Helen helps share the Paintvine experience with the wider community, keeping our online presence fresh, engaging, and aligned with who we are as a brand.
Coordinating our private events and venue relationships is Clara Lucey, who works closely with clients to deliver tailored experiences for celebrations, corporate groups, and special occasions. Clara ensures each private event runs smoothly from enquiry through to the final brushstroke.
Our support team collaborates across roles to support Paintvine artists, venues, and guests throughout New Zealand
Supporting the day-to-day running of the business is Jim Aranas, our Administrator. Jim manages general administration and public events, helping keep everything organised behind the scenes so artists can focus on what they do best.
Leading our artist training and logistics is Julia Glenn, Lead Artist and Supplies and Logistics Coordinator. Based in Auckland, Julia supports artists nationwide as a Lead Trainer, while also managing equipment and supplies to ensure every event is fully prepared and professionally delivered.
Our artist community
Paintvine nurtures a vibrant and growing community of Lead Artists and Assistant Artists across New Zealand. Our artists are the heart of what we do, bringing creativity, confidence, and connection to every event.
