A WINCHESTER art graduate who unveiled a new children’s workshop business said demand for her space has “snowballed” since she opened just three months ago.

Donna Vokes, 31, launched Art Start UK – specifically aimed at providing children with their own art space – back at the end of March, but has since seen demand from adults wanting to take up art classes as well.

Ms Vokes, who lives in Sutton Scotney, said she started looking for a new site with the aim of giving her Saturday children at Henry Beaufort their own space to exhibit. Due to the school’s health and safety rules as well as space she wasn’t able to teach them to the full extent she wanted to.

She took on a lease at Wintex House at Winnall and was surprised to receive enthusiasm from Winchester’s adult residents after publicising her new business on social media.

“People were saying it was just what Winchester needed so I’ve grown it to include adult space as well now,” she said. “We’ve also had a few birthday parties and I’ve even had enquiries from yoga teachers wanting to use the space. I’m hoping that will take off, art and meditation seem to be very popular.”

The Winchester School of Art graduate in sculpture said she’s particularly keen to get a kiln in the large new space which she hopes to start a Kickstarter campaign to fund.

“It’s just snowballed and I love it!” she added. “I thought it would be best to open it up to the community and let everybody in.”