Fanatic acquires Bristol creative agency Studio Kin

Bristol, 21 October 2026

Founded by Ian and Milly Collis-Smith in 2001, Fanatic is an independent agency built around connecting these disciplines to help clients solve problems and grow. It works with brands locally, nationally and internationally, including Hawksmoor, Gordon Ramsay, Artfarm and Benihana. The acquisition advances its growth plans and deepens its creative expertise.

Studio Kin was founded by James Ratcliffe and Simon Day, following eight years building and leading Rhombus Studio. It brings depth in brand strategy and identity, with senior creative teams working directly with clients. Its work includes the identity for Western Forest, Bristol Beer Factory’s brand and projects for Housing Matters and Caring in Bristol.

Bringing brand thinking, design, digital delivery and performance together gives clients greater consistency across their websites, campaigns and communications. It also gives the agency more ways to address their business challenges.

As James Ratcliffe explains: “A great brand is more valuable when the website, UX, search and marketing around it are all working with it.”

For agency founders, finding the right fit means bringing together complementary services, shared standards and strong working relationships.

Ian Collis-Smith describes the ambition as “connecting the right people around the problem and helping the client perform better.”

The combined team will operate as Fanatic. James and Simon join its senior leadership as Creative Director and Client Director, helping shape its next stage of growth while retaining the close client relationships and collaborative approach both businesses value.

The transaction reflects Motion’s focus on strategic growth and dealmaking for companies redefining marketing, media and culture. We work with founders and investors behind distinctive agencies and other businesses across digital, experience, sport, content and marketing technology.

Congratulations to Ian, Milly, James, Simon and both teams. We’re pleased to have played a part and look forward to seeing what they build together.

Find out more here:

https://bristolcreativeindustries.com/fanatic-acquires-studio-kin-to-join-forces-in-building-the-next-generation-agency/

Rick has been a trusted advisor to Fanatic and understands our business and our ambitions. Working with him and Rob at Motion Advisory Partners helped us turn those ambitions into a clear acquisition strategy. They were instrumental in bringing Studio Kin into Fanatic, shaping the deal, working through the detail and seeing it through to completion. Their advice was straightforward, commercially sharp and always conscious of the people involved. We felt in very experienced hands throughout, with partners who cared about what we were building and how this deal would help us get there.

Motion’s experience in running, scaling and selling agencies shone through - strategic decision making, excellent advice and a enjoyable process from our first conversation to getting it over the line. Thank you Rick and Rob!