About Phuza & Paint

The Accidental Therapy Session

If you had told corporate South Africa five years ago that their senior partners and regional directors would spend an entire Tuesday afternoon obsessing over whether their purple and red was blended properly, nobody would have believed you.

Yet, here we are.

Phuza & Paint started in 2023 out of a simple observation: modern work culture drains people dry, and most company socials only add to the exhaustion. You usually have to make small talk with that colleague you met once when you started at the company, and nurse a warm drink while waiting for an acceptable time to slip away.

We wanted to create an environment where the social masks come off the second the aprons go on. When you put a paintbrush in someone's hand, their brain physically cannot worry about their inbox. The title at the bottom of your email signature stops mattering, because on a blank canvas, everyone is equally terrified of messing up. That shared vulnerability is where the real connection happens.

Hollard Christmas year-end function with Phuza and Paint, Parktown

Why "Phuza and Paint"?

The name says it all, but the philosophy goes deeper. In South Africa, coming together to phuza - to share a drink, a table, a story - is sacred. Pair that with an activity where you actually create something physical, and the room transforms within twenty minutes.

We are not an art academy, and we don't hold dry lectures about lighting and composition. We are, simply put, people's people who know how to read a room and coax genuine creative confidence out of people who may just be a little scared to leave their comfort zone. We all start somewhere, and we would love you to start with us.

Sorbet Women's Day corporate sip and paint with Phuza and Paint, Sandton

Meet The Mastermind

Kat Johnstone - Founder and Managing Director Of Phuza and Paint

Hello gorgeous reader!

I am Kat, 25-year-old South African art enthusiast and entrepreneur. Welcome to my passion project: Phuza and Paint.

Phuza and Paint was born out of a desire to share the joy and therapeutic power of art far and wide. Art has always been a safe space for me to express myself - on both good days and bad - and so here I am, sharing that very same healing energy with you.

I myself started out as a self-taught artist, so I know what it feels like to look at a blank canvas and think "there is NO way I can pull this off." That is why my only job during an event is to destroy that fear.

When I started Phuza and Paint back in 2023, I never dreamed it would be where it is today. I have partnered with incredible local and global companies across South Africa to bring lasting and impactful creative sessions to life - and we are just getting started!

I always tell my clients: you do not have to be the best artist in the room. It is not just about the picture you end up with on your canvas, it is also about the connections you make and the memories that you take with you. And that is exactly why I do this.

With colour and creativity,

Phuza and Paint Heritage Day sip and paint, Johannesburg

Read About Me

As featured in The Citizen.

Meet My Partner in Paint

Clinton Botha - Artist & Event Assistant (and a fan favourite for bachelorettes)

Every superhero needs a sidekick (and sometimes, a whole second superhero), and that’s where Clinton comes in!

Clinton is not only my trusted right-hand human during peak season and big events, he’s also a creative powerhouse and my calm in the chaos. With a background in hospitality, he’s got a knack for guiding guests through their painting journey with patience and just the right splash of flair.

Clinton adds something special to any Phuza and Paint event, he is a phenomenal hype man and makes sure everything runs seamlessly in the background. Basically? If I can’t be at your event, you’re in incredibly good hands with Clinton.