On the latest episode of the Create Your Kindspace podcast, Caroline Laurenson chats with Sara Matthews, the creative mind behind Baravere Studio and Artful Encounters. Sara’s journey took an unexpected turn from PR to graphic design, sparked by completing a Master’s at Gray’s School of Art. In 2020, she launched Baravere Studio, diving into design through collaboration and experimentation.
Living with ADHD, Sara has learned to embrace it as both a challenge and a strength. Journaling became her anchor, shaping her research and leading her to create Artful Encounters. A space where handwriting, storytelling, and hands-on creativity come together for self-expression and wellbeing.
An Unconventional Start
Sara’s path into the creative industry started when her daughter was two, and she decided to return to university. Initially studying PR and advertising, she later shifted to a media degree at RGU.
“I decided I wanted to go back to university, reinvent my career and my future destination in life.”
A chance conversation with a professor led her to a Master’s in Communication Design at Gray’s School of Art despite having no formal graphic design experience.
“And at that point, I did not ever have any real graphic design experience, or… I did photography, but nothing major. But somehow, he accepted me on the programme, and that led to a whole new world of creativity for me.”
That unexpected opportunity reshaped her creative path. After completing her Master’s, she briefly pursued teacher training in art and design but struggled with the lack of support for ADHD.
ADHD as a Creative Power Source
For Sara, the rigid structure of the teacher training and having a brain which is wired differently, made it feel impossible to navigate her studies.
“And it’s not something that I go and talk about with anybody that, ‘Hey, I have ADHD’ because I don’t take medication for it. I just manage it by avoiding caffeine and anything that triggers it. It led to a really traumatic experience for me.”
But while it has been challenging, she also sees ADHD as a creative superpower.
“And I love that fluidity of my personality as a creative, and also the privilege of being able to do it by some miracle. And I don’t know how I do it. It’s overwhelming, I have to tell you. But I think ADHD is my power source for me. As much as it can be debilitating, it has been a major power source for me as well.”
During the pandemic, she discovered a powerful way to channel this energy.
“I started journaling. And I noticed, because of the way my neurons work in my brain, when I focused and I did something that involved my cognition and my physical hands and thinking, it triggered something in me. I would be so productive and so focused.”
This realisation shaped her Master’s research and, ultimately, the development of Artful Encounters.
Creativity, Growth, & Collaboration
When COVID-19 disrupted her university placements, she took it as a sign to step away and rethink her next steps. That reflection led to the launch of Baravere Studio in June 2020. Starting a creative business in the midst of a pandemic wasn’t easy, but Sara embraced the challenge.
“If you saw my previous work, you’re like, oh, yeah, you’ve grown. This is not good. This is not your best, and I think that’s part of creativity.”
Now, five years on, she sees creativity as an ongoing process that thrives on experimentation.
“And then I started testing out different kinds of projects, wallpaper, prints, pouring art, turning that into graphic design, printing them on silk scarves, all made in the UK.”
For Sara, collaboration is at the heart of creativity. While some guard their projects closely, she finds energy in co-creation, valuing the different strengths that each person brings.
“I want to work with people. I want other people to shine. I want other ideas to come so that we do things differently.”
Through Artful Encounters, she also mentors young artists worldwide, helping them find their own creative voice.
The Power of Handwriting & Creative Expression
Artful Encounters grew from Sara’s Master’s exhibition, blending photography, fine art, and graphic design. A lifelong fascination with handwriting—rooted in childhood lessons—became a central theme in her research.
“The love of writing was embedded in me when I was a little girl. My parents actually hired a teacher, specifically, to teach me cursive writing”
During the pandemic, she rediscovered its cognitive benefits through journaling, which helped shape her workshops.
“And I thought this writing, it connects with my childhood, and it would then translate into the work that I am doing, where I’m using my hands a lot, tactile materials.”
Handwriting activates the brain in ways typing doesn’t, improving focus and memory.
“Research indicates that handwriting activates more extensive and interconnected brain networks compared to typing, particularly in regions linked to memory and sensory processing. This enhanced brain activity is associated with improved learning and memory retention.”
Her workshops explore this through letter writing and storytelling, often surprising participants who assume creativity is only for “artistic” people.
“I mean, that’s one of the most common things I hear when somebody thinks about a Baravere Studios or Artful Encounters, they straight away go, ‘Oh, I’m not arty. ’ But actually, that’s the biggest lie about creativity, that people think that they associate with art, specifically. Creativity exists in doctors and engineers because they have to come up with solutions for something. Creativity is not just limited to the fine arts or whatever art form that we practice.”
Even something as simple as using a dipping pen can be unexpectedly therapeutic.
“They were like, you know what? That was so good. I don’t know why I resisted. I had these preconceived ideas. And then once they pushed in, went beyond their comfort zone, they discovered it was wonderful.”
Creativity & Wellbeing
Sara sees creativity as essential to wellbeing. Research shows just how important the arts can be for helping with stress, anxiety and depression.
“Research indicates that participation in the arts, such as music, visual arts, dance, and expressive writing can lead to significant improvements in mental and physical health. These creative engagements have been associated with reduced stress, enhanced emotional resilience, and a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression”
Her workshops blend writing, storytelling, and even music, offering a space for self-expression and connection.
“This art, the Artful Encounter, the immersive workshop, is the way to go. It was last year that we introduced music as well, where people could express whatever they’re feeling negative, positive through just singing randomly. You don’t have to be a singer.”
Artful Encounters is not about rigid structure. It’s about slowing down, stepping away from screens, and engaging with materials in a tactile, meaningful way.
“And we just let people lead, really. I’m just there to facilitate rather than, ‘You must do it this way.’ There’s no prescribed outcome. And when it is so dynamic and so cathartic, it allows for some deep expressions, and it’s never the same. So we never get bored, and people never think this is exactly what’s going to happen at Art Encounters.”
Balancing Technology & Creativity
Remote work and evolving technology initially felt overwhelming for Sara, but she quickly realised that tools like Slack, Zoom, and AI are just that—tools, created by humans, for humans.
“This technology that we all enjoy, we built it. Another human being built it, and built with us in mind so that we can use it. And so therefore, don’t limit yourself by saying, I’m not creative or I can’t do this. You can’t. Just push through the hurdle, and you’ll come to the other side as a winner.”
The key is using them intentionally, rather than letting them shape how we think and work.
“Technology is a tool, and it cannot become our life. And I think that’s what the problem is in a lot of cases, that it’s becoming life to people, and it’s the only way they can do anything or becomes a crutch. But it’s actually just another tool that we create”
Sara believes in finding a balance. Embracing technology where it enhances productivity but knowing when to step back. While AI is useful, it can’t replace human creativity, intuition, or emotional depth.
“The ‘je ne sais quoi’ of humanity cannot be replicated by an AI.”
Final Thoughts and Resources
Together with Caroline, Sara is hosting a special Mother-Daughter event in the lead-up to Mother’s Day. This is an intimate and reflective creative writing session designed to celebrate, remember, and honour the deep connection between mothers and daughters.
Whether your mother is a guiding presence in your life or lives on in cherished memories, this workshop offers a gentle space to explore emotions, stories, and shared moments through the healing power of writing.
Sara’s journey shows how creativity can be a powerful way to grow, heal, and connect. From navigating ADHD to rediscovering the joy of handwriting, she has found ways to turn her experiences into something meaningful.
Through Baravere Studio and Artful Encounters, she creates spaces where anyone can explore creativity in a way that feels natural. Whether it’s through journaling, storytelling, or simply putting pen to paper, her work is a reminder that creativity isn’t about being “artistic”. It’s about expression, connection, and finding what feels good.
- Sign up for the workshop here: https://createyourkindspace.com/mothers-day-creative-writing/
- Follow Sara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara_in_scotland
- Follow Baravere Studio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baraverestudio
- Listen to the full episode: https://createyourkindspace.com/the-art-of-writing-in-the-digital-age-with-sara-matthews/