Welcome to Pack and Paint! I’m Lauren, a thirty-something artist and designer based in the UK. This blog was born through my two biggest passions – art and travel.
About Lauren
My love for travel started at age 9 when I travelled abroad for the first time. Since then, it’s grown rapidly. While I’ve been lucky enough to travel to almost 30 countries, I don’t plan on slowing down. There are still SO many spots on my never-ending bucket list. For example, I’d love to:
- See all seven Wonders of the World (so far, I’ve only been to the Colosseum)
- Enjoy a festive interrailing trip through Europe
- Go island hopping in Croatia
- Watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat in Cambodia
- Experience an African safari
And much, much more! I also like to go beyond the typical tourist routes to discover hidden gems. Speaking with locals and learning more about different cultures are some of my favourite things to do while travelling.
Why Pack and Paint?
I’ve been creative from a very young age. As a child, I would spend all of my pocket money on art supplies in Hobby Craft. If you’d asked me back then what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d have said an artist. Many years later, not much has changed.
With a first-class honours degree in Textiles and Surface Design and several years of industry experience, my designs have been sold in high street stores across the UK. More recently, I’ve sold prints to clients in the United Arab Emirates, USA and Turkey.
Travel massively inspires my art and I like to carry my supplies with me on the road. Although I don’t always have time to sit and paint (too much to see, not enough time), it’s great to have the option. I wanted the name of my blog to reflect that. Pack and Paint seemed like the perfect fit!
Destination Focus: The Netherlands
I first visited the Netherlands for my 21st birthday, hitting up Amsterdam’s main attractions with my younger sister. Years later, in 2022, a cancelled flight to the US led to a free stopover in the capital before flying on to Boston.
Since then, I’ve visited this charming European country several times a year. I’ve lived like a local in Monnickendam, learned about Dutch crafts in Zaanse Schans and wandered through picture-perfect tulip gardens in Lisse.
Beyond popular cities like Haarlem and Rotterdam, I’ve also explored spots that most tourists are unaware of. I’ve discovered UNESCO World Heritage sites like Kinderdijk, got lost in historical castles and visited my fair share of museums (shoutout to my Netherlands Museum Pass).
It’s now one of my favourite places in the world and while I haven’t been everywhere, I’m on a mission to see (and write about) as much of the Netherlands as possible.
Other destinations
My travel obsession doesn’t stop at the Dutch border. As I mentioned earlier, I still love visiting other destinations and experiencing different cultures – especially across England (my home country), Morocco and Europe as a whole.
While the Netherlands is a big focus on Pack and Paint, you’ll also find travel inspiration and guides from my worldwide adventures. In the past, I’ve written about my Budapest city break, road-tripping through the Cotswolds, visiting Morocco solo and much more.
My mission
My goal is to show you how to travel with purpose. Instead of quickly hopping from one country to the next, I encourage you to slow down, take it all in and truly enjoy the experience.
This blog focuses on cultural travel. By exploring museums, art galleries, history, food and authentic everyday moments, you’ll gain unforgettable memories that stay with you long after the trip has ended.
Enjoy!
