Where It All Began…

As some of you may know, my name is Kieren – I’m a proud mum of two beautiful boys and the heart behind Hills and Spills. Today, I wanted to take a moment to share a little bit about where this journey started and how a simple love for painting turned into something so much more.

My earliest memory of falling in love with art goes all the way back to Grade 4. I remember sitting in class, pencil in hand, and having this moment where I thought… “I’m actually not too bad at this!” That small moment sparked something inside me. Through high school, I continued to paint and draw, slowly growing in confidence and creativity.

But like many of us, life took over. In my late teens and early twenties, I didn’t make a whole lot of time for art. It wasn't until I was around 23 that the spark reignited. I started picking up little projects here and there – nothing huge, but it was enough to remind me of how much I missed it.

When I met my now-husband, everything started to shift. He saw the joy painting brought me and gently encouraged me to start doing more – even if it was just little bits and pieces. He’s always been my biggest supporter, and for that, I’m endlessly grateful.

Fast forward to 2023 – we were trying to come up with a fun date night idea. I remembered how much we both enjoyed painting (and wine... let’s be honest), so I thought, “Why not do a paint and sip night?” The closest one was 30 minutes away, but we went anyway. And throughout the night, my husband turned to me and said, “You could do this. This is such a great concept, and there’s nothing like this nearby.”

And just like that, the seed was planted.

That night, Hills and Spills was born. My husband even came up with the name (pretty clever, right?) and has been an amazing sounding board through it all – from ideas to business concepts, and just helping bring this dream to life.

Now here we are in 2025. Two years into this adventure and so much has changed. We’ve learned, adapted, grown – but one thing that’s never wavered is my passion. Every time I’m at a party or an event, it barely feels like work. I’m connecting with people, watching them create, laugh, unwind – and I think to myself… this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

They say, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I’m so lucky to say that I’ve found mine.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported Hills and Spills so far. Whether you’ve come to an event, liked a post, or simply cheered me on – it means the world.

Here’s to more paint, more spills, and many more moments shared together. 🎨🍷

Kieren x