A Lifestyle Brand + Social Enterprise
The BraveArt Project is a Nova Scotia–based trauma-informed lifestyle brand and social enterprise empowering people impacted by domestic abuse through therapeutic art, advocacy, and community connection.
Our work is rooted in compassion, creativity, and community. Every purchase funds real-world impact and allows us to:
- Donate art kits to domestic violence shelters across Canada
- Lead trauma-informed art workshops for survivors, professionals, and communities
- Fund programs through BraveArt merch, mindfulness colouring books, and sponsorships
- Advocate for systemic change through storytelling, awareness, and education
A Vision for Healing Through Creativity
Our mission is to create safe, empowering, and creative spaces where survivors, allies, and supporters can connect, heal, and express themselves through art. We use art as a tool for healing, resilience, and post-traumatic growth.
Our vision is a world where every survivor has access to the healing power of creativity and community.
Why BraveArt Exists
Over 44% of Canadian women over age 15 have experienced intimate partner violence. Nova Scotia declared gender-based violence an epidemic in 2024. Nearly 1 in 3 survivors experience long-term mental health challenges such as anxiety, PTSD, or depression.
Research shows that art-based healing can reduce PTSD symptoms by up to 50% in trauma survivors, improving focus, mood, and hope.
Founder + Lead Artist
Jessie Taylor is a nationally recognized trauma-informed coach, speaker, advocate, and artist with more than 20 years of experience across the corporate, healthcare, government, and nonprofit sectors.
A survivor advocate and changemaker, Jessie founded The BraveArt Project to make trauma-informed creative healing more accessible, turning art into both personal recovery and community impact.
Jessie has facilitated workshops and trauma-informed trainings across Canada and has been featured on national platforms for her leadership in domestic violence awareness, mental health advocacy, and post-traumatic growth.
Her work blends evidence-informed tools, expressive creativity, and lived experience to help people reconnect with safety, courage, and self-trust.
Social Media Manager
Meet Jake Smith (he/him) - Founder of Beauty & Business by Jake, a boutique creative consultancy dedicated to helping 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied entrepreneurs show up boldly both online and in person.
Through a distinctive blend of makeup artistry, personal branding, digital marketing, and creative consulting, Jake helps others integrate all sides of themselves and shine unapologetically. At its core, Beauty & Business by Jake is more than a business, it is a mission: helping people embrace authenticity as both their best tool for self-confidence and their boldest business strategy.
When Jake's not bouncing between boardroom briefs, marketing strategies, or makeup bookings, you can usually find him twirling on a dance floor with a glass of wine, living his best life.
Jake's work aligns seamlessly with BraveArt’s mission: creating safer, affirming spaces where people can integrate all parts of themselves and shine unapologetically.
At its core, Beauty & Business by Jake is more than a business — it’s a movement rooted in authenticity as both a confidence practice and a bold business strategy.
Chief Cuddle Officer
Max the Goldendoodle (he/him)
Meet Max, BraveArt’s beloved Chief Cuddle Officer and unofficial emotional-support specialist. With a natural gift for stress reduction, he brings warmth, comfort, and calm to everyone he meets.
His calming presence helps reduce anxiety, regulate the nervous system, and remind us that healing doesn’t have to be complicated — sometimes it’s about connection, comfort, and a really good nap.
He takes his job seriously… and his treats even more so.
Follow Max’s adventures on Instagram: @braveartns
speaking + advocacy
Founder Jessie Taylor brings trauma-informed insight, lived experience, and creative tools into spaces.
Topics may include:
Trauma-informed practices
Post-traumatic growth
Domestic abuse awareness
Mental wellness through creativity
We can co-create topics for custom experiences. Limited availability.