Dennis is forced into business .

Dennis Clark, a piping engineer and lifelong self taught artist, started the first studio from humble beginnings. “I’m not qualified to teach”, were the first words that came out of Dennis' mouth when asked by a colleague to teach him how to paint. He pestered Dennis for days until he eventually gave in and agreed to each him after work. The word soon spread at work and that first lesson began with 3 people at a kitchen table in Dennis' small private studio.

Within weeks he had so many students, through word of mouth, that they filled his private studio, home office, and the adjacent dining room. As there were still many requests coming in for his classes he was forced to set up a large, dedicated teaching studio to accommodate the students comfortably. That was during the 1984. Dennis named the studio the “Freeway Park Art Studio”.

First full time Studio.

By 1987 the studio had become so well-known that he had long waiting lists for each of the evening classes. Many people had to wait up to 2 years before an opening became available for they could start lessons. That is when Dennis decided to take his hobby full time.

In the years that followed Dennis spent all his time researching and testing new methods of painting and teaching until he eventually developed a system that was far superior to that of the competition. Now every single one of the new students, even those who have never painted before, produce a first painting of such a quality that it is worthy of adorning a sitting room wall.

Nolan discovers art.

In 1996 Dennis' son, Nolan, decides to start a wedding video business. As Dennis is too far away to ask him to draw a logo for the business, Nolan decides to try to draw it himself. Surprised at the result, he promptly signs himself up for a weekend pencil drawing seminar at Dennis' studio. Soon Nolan also started painting in oils.

Franchising the studio.

At the beginning of 1999 Dennis decides to take the business to the next level and franchise. As this is a world first, he teams up with Nolan to do this. The business is awarded full membership to the Franchise Association of SA later that year.

The following year (2000) they set up a studio for Nolan as a pilot franchise. Over the following three years they fine-tuned the methods needed to successfully franchise the business. They took Dennis' original Operations Manual and after countless hours of hard work they eventually produced a worthy “bible” covering all the aspects of operating a franchised studio and not just a booklet containing requirements of the Franchise oAssociation. The current franchise model now far exceeds the requiremkents of FASA.

On 1st July 2003 they signed up their first Franchisee.

Paint Basket goes international

In 2008 Nolan immigrates the New Zealand and in 2009 Dennis does the same, making The Paint Basket a truly international brand.

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