She quit school twice. Her horror art studio nearly closed. Now, its neon art jams book out most weekends
An IP student at an elite school, Merida Lim left with only a PSLE certificate to open a horror-themed art studio at 19. When it nearly closed, she pivoted to neon art jams and the business now generates five figures in monthly revenue. This is the first instalment of CNA Women’s Gen Z series.
Merida Lim, a former student with only a PSLE certificate, opened a horror-themed art studio at the age of 19. Her studio, Scuro, initially struggled with bookings dropping by over 50% in the second month. In a desperate attempt to save her business, Lim resorted to social media, posting a TikTok video to appeal for support. Despite the initial setbacks, Lim introduced neon art jams using fluorescent paints, which quickly gained popularity, particularly among children.
With a growing demand for neon horror-themed art jams, Scuro evolved into a family-friendly studio, offering non-toxic fluorescent paint and various art activities for children's parties. Over the course of a few months, Scuro's monthly revenue grew to a five-figure sum, and Lim later opened a second studio in 2025. The business now employs a co-founder, full-time manager, and 20 part-timers.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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