A passion for art, decades of experience and a desire to bring creativity into the local community have helped Shadi Shokoohi turn her lifelong ambition into a growing business in Coventry.
Through Shadi Fine Art Studio, Shadi offers professional painting and drawing lessons to adults, helping budding artists develop their skills, build confidence and discover their own creative voices. Alongside teaching, she continues to create and sell her own original artwork.
With an £8,500 Start Up Loan delivered through First Enterprise, Shadi was able to purchase essential studio equipment and materials, launch her classes and begin building a welcoming creative community.
As a member of the National Enterprise Network (NEN), First Enterprise plays an important role in supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses through access to finance, practical advice and business guidance. Shadi’s story demonstrates how tailored support can help turn a personal passion into a sustainable business with a positive impact on the wider community.
A Lifelong Passion for Art
Art has always been central to Shadi’s life. She originally studied art in Iran before moving to Italy to continue her education at the Florence Academy of Art. After settling in the UK, she began exploring how she could turn her creative passion into a business.
Initially, Shadi focused on selling her original artwork while developing her English language skills. As her confidence grew, she decided to pursue another longstanding passion: teaching.
With more than 30 years of artistic experience and 15 years as an educator, Shadi already had a strong foundation on which to build her business. She had previously run her own gallery and taught students of different ages and abilities.
Establishing her own studio in Coventry was the next step, allowing her to combine her artistic practice with her experience as a teacher.
Her vision was to create a space where people could learn new skills, connect with others and grow through creativity.
Creating a Different Kind of Art Studio
Shadi Fine Art Studio offers a personalised approach to art education, giving students the opportunity to explore their interests and develop at their own pace.
Rather than asking everyone to work on the same subject or complete identical projects, Shadi tailors her teaching to each student’s individual interests, abilities and goals.
This flexible approach enables beginners to develop their confidence while more experienced artists can continue refining their techniques and exploring new ideas.
As Shadi explains:
“My method combines experience from Iran, Italy, and the UK, helping students develop their own artistic voice while learning in a supportive and welcoming environment.”
Her international artistic background, combined with years of teaching experience, helps her create an environment where students feel encouraged to experiment, learn and develop their own styles.
However, turning this vision into a practical business required investment. Paintbrushes, paints, easels, canvases and other essential studio materials can be expensive, particularly when establishing a new teaching space.
To get her classes off the ground, Shadi needed funding to purchase the equipment and supplies required to welcome students and deliver professional art lessons.
How First Enterprise Helped Bring the Vision to Life
As a new immigrant to the UK, Shadi faced financial barriers when trying to establish her business. She did not have the assets or cash reserves needed to fund the initial investment independently.
Through business support programmes and entrepreneurial networks, she was introduced to First Enterprise and began exploring the Start Up Loan available to help her launch her venture.
First Enterprise supported Shadi through the funding process, providing guidance on business planning, financial management and business development alongside access to an £8,500 Start Up Loan.
The funding enabled her to purchase essential equipment, invest in materials and establish the foundations needed to start delivering classes.
For Shadi, the support was about more than securing finance. It helped her understand the practicalities of running a business in the UK and gave her greater confidence in taking her idea forward.
Reflecting on the experience, Shadi said:
“The guidance I received in business planning, financial management, and business development helped me gain confidence and establish my business in the UK. The support provided a strong foundation for growth and helped turn my vision into a sustainable business.”
She also carefully managed the funding to ensure she could continue investing in the business as it developed, including planning for a larger teaching space and business transport.
Shadi added:
“My experience with First Enterprise was incredibly positive. Their commitment to supporting small businesses has made a significant difference in my journey. Their assistance has allowed me to develop a body of work that I am proud of, launch my classes, and build a social media following of over 22,000 across TikTok and Instagram. I hope to inspire others with my story and emphasize the importance of such support for artists and entrepreneurs.”
Her experience highlights how access to funding and appropriate business advice can help entrepreneurs overcome initial barriers and create opportunities to develop their ideas into viable enterprises.
Early Success and a Growing Creative Community
Shadi Fine Art Studio has already made an encouraging start. During its first three months of operation, the business welcomed around 30 active students, demonstrating demand for Shadi’s personalised approach to art education.
While the studio combines art sales with teaching, her current focus is firmly on developing her classes and supporting her students.
For Shadi, success is measured by more than the number of people attending lessons. She is particularly proud of the positive effects that creativity can have on people’s confidence, wellbeing and social connections.
Through her classes, students have found opportunities to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and make time for a creative activity away from the pressures of everyday life.
Shadi explains:
“Many students have told me about improvements in their wellbeing, motivation, and social connection. I am especially proud that students continue returning for further courses, demonstrating both an overall satisfaction and highlighting their own meaningful progress.”
By creating a welcoming environment where people can explore their creativity without pressure, Shadi is helping to build a closely connected community around a shared love of art.
Her work demonstrates the wider value that small businesses can bring to their local areas, providing not only services and employment opportunities but also spaces where people can connect, learn and feel part of something.
Looking Ahead: Growing the Business and Inspiring Others
Shadi has ambitious plans for the future of her studio.
Her priorities include securing a larger, permanent teaching space and introducing dedicated art programmes for children. As the business grows, she hopes to recruit additional instructors, organise student exhibitions and develop partnerships with charities and community organisations.
These plans would allow Shadi to reach more people and expand the opportunities available through her teaching.
She also hopes to continue developing her own artistic career, with a longer-term ambition to establish a second studio or gallery space in Birmingham.
Alongside these plans, Shadi continues to build her online presence, using social media to showcase her artwork, share her journey and connect with a wider audience.
Her progress demonstrates how a clear vision, careful planning and the right support can help a new business establish itself and begin working towards its longer-term ambitions.
First Enterprise: Supporting Entrepreneurs to Succeed
For First Enterprise, supporting Shadi has meant helping an entrepreneur turn years of artistic experience and a passion for teaching into a growing business that is making a difference in Coventry.
Shadi’s Business Adviser, Mohsin Rizvi, said:
“I’m really happy that Shadi was able to get the funding she needed to launch her business. Her personal story coming from Iran to the UK, her passion for art, and her desire to give back to the community through teaching resonated with me.
“I’m thrilled to see that her Start Up Loan through First Enterprise has helped her sell her artwork and start her unique art classes. I wish her all the best for the future.”
Shadi’s journey reflects the work of First Enterprise and its commitment to helping entrepreneurs access the finance and guidance they need to start and grow their businesses.
As a member of the National Enterprise Network, First Enterprise is part of a wider network of organisations dedicated to supporting enterprise, encouraging entrepreneurship and helping businesses realise their potential.
Her story is a reminder that business ideas can come from many different places. For some, it is a long-held ambition; for others, it is an opportunity to build on years of professional experience or turn a personal passion into a livelihood.
With the right support, those ideas can become businesses that contribute to local economies and make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.