Brushstrokes of Hope: Standing with Carlee’s Creative Studio

After 10 years of grit, late nights and pure determination my cousin Carlee Smith finally opened her dream, The Studio by Red's Imagery.

A safe, welcoming space where artists, beginners and everyday dreamers can create, connect and heal through art.

But just a year later, after celebrating the Studio's first anniversary, everything was put at risk.

On 4 October 2025, Carlee's phone was stolen and within 30 minutes, every cent from her personal and business accounts was drained. All her savings, everything she had worked so hard for, was gone.

Now, as she faces a long fraud investigation and mounting bills, the creative home she built for so many is in danger of closing its doors.

Creativity has carried Carlee through some of her darkest moments. Art gave her a way to heal, to breathe and to find light when things felt heavy. It's more than a business, it's a corner of hope in a world that often tells creatives to ‘get real’

Here are some of the experiences that make...