WHAT BETTER way to spend an evening than sipping on delicious cocktails and finding your creative side.

That's exactly what Julie Ann has done, with her innovative new business, The Paint Night Company.

Julie Ann premiered her idea at the Bosco Lounge in Woodley last month, and invited me and my mother to go along.

The lounge was packed with punters and diners, all looking bewildered at the rows of canvases lined up across the lounge.

At the front of the lounge, there was a beautifully painted canvas, featuring a red and white wine splashing together to form a heart, appropriately named 'Love Wine'.

My initial thought was surely she's not going to expect me to paint that, but I soon realised that was exactly what she expected me to do.

It was fine for my mother -a talented artist by trade - but for someone who struggles to draw a stick man, it was slightly more daunting.

Mrs Anne and her family team began dishing out step by step instructions of how to re-create her masterpiece, whilst her daughter hovered around the budding artists offering to bring drinks to the table.

The drinks eased my nerves slightly, and I decided to put my brush to my canvas and start to mimic 'Love Wine' - only for Mrs Anne to come over and correct my immediate mistake.

The cocktails kept pouring in as the crowd stroked their brushes across the canvas, and excitement filled the room as our work started to resemble Julie Ann's.

I swiftly learned though that despite not being a great artist, under Mrs Anne's instruction - and a cocktail or two - anyone can create a piece of art.

It might have not been up to Picasso's standards, but for someone who has had a total aversion to art for over a decade, it was a fairly good attempt.

All in all, if you can gather a group of friends who enjoy cocktails and learning something new, you won't be disappointed with The Paint Night Company.

Mrs Ann blends artistic painting and drinking cocktails in local bars and restaurants, where she walks guests through creating a beautiful work of art step-by-step.

Speaking after the premier event, Mrs Anne said she was delighted with the reception she received from the audience.

She said: "I really enjoyed the night, I was quite nervous but once the atmosphere was there it was absolutely fantastic.

The 45-year-old added that she has already received a host of fresh bookings.