Creative Escape was created by Elena and Carolina. Elena is originally from Ukraine and came to Portugal at the beginning of the war, so it is her 4th year living here. Carolina is Portuguese, from the Algarve. The two became friends while working in a café.

Both being creative souls, after seeing a social media trend where friends painted together and switched canvases every ten minutes to add to each other’s work, they knew they needed to give it a try themselves. It was springtime, so they went to the beach to paint in the sunshine. It turned out to be a lot of fun! They had an amazing and special day, where they got completely lost in the moment and really enjoyed the experience. Being on the beach, connected to nature while creating something, was truly magical.

“We enjoyed this so much that we thought it would be great to share it with others. And that is how Creative Escape was born. The word escape is not random – it is about switching off, enjoying yourself, meeting new people, having fun and fulfilling small wishes,” they explained.


Elena and Carolina are not professionals, and they do not come from an art background, but both share a love for creativity.

“In art we find inspiration, comfort, beauty and even therapy. This project is not meant to be for professionals; it is not like taking an art lesson, it is for everybody, for men and women, everyone who wants to disconnect for a while.”

At the moment, they have a new special project; instead of canvases, they use candles to paint! You can create your own design and take your candle home. Delicious snacks, drinks and amazing sunset views are included! The price of the session covers either canvas or candle, so all you need to bring is yourself, your creativity, and a good mood.


Elena and Carolina have many plans for the future. They want to keep experimenting with painting sessions, and they do not want Creative Escape to be just a summer thing. An indoor space in Lagos is already prepared for wintertime and new creative sessions.

Whether it is a canvas or candle painting session, you can enjoy the sunset on the beach, enjoy pastéis de nata and other delicious treats, connect with others, and at the end of the evening, take home your own unique creation, a special reminder of a magical escape.