Meet The Founder
Scott Woolley
Scott’s journey to sobriety is a story of finding his purpose. After years of grey area drinking, he made the decision to become sober in 2015, drawing inspiration from his photography & fitness journey. By integrating his lived experience with his two careers in alcohol treatment & marketing, Scott has cultivated a unique specialisation that informs his work with Arclett. Through Arclett, Scott is challenging the status quo and inspiring others to explore an alcohol-free lifestyle.
Youth & Inspiration (2004-2006)
Growing up in a culture that celebrated drinking, Scott’s teenage years were filled with skating, punk music, and the ingrained belief that alcohol was essential for fun. This was a time when mainstream media controlled narratives, social media was nonexistent, and MTV culture was in its prime, heavily shaping youth attitudes and lifestyles towards alcohol. His passion for the music scene eventually led him to college, where he enrolled in a music course, to be reminded that partying took precedence over studying.
In 2006, however, he encountered a new perspective that would plant the first seeds of sober curiosity. Watching Jack Osbourne’s Adrenaline Junkie, Scott realised for the first time that adventure and fulfilment didn’t have to revolve around alcohol. It was a transformative moment, showing him that sobriety could actually be fun and sparking a new way of thinking that would ultimately change his life.
Career Beginnings (2007-2009)
At 19, out of college with a music course completed, Scott began his career in alcohol treatment by volunteering with HMPPS. This role exposed him to the worst consequences of alcohol use. These early experiences fuelled his desire to make a positive impact and deepened his understanding of the field.
In 2008, inspired by his volunteer work, Scott joined Liverpool’s Lighthouse Project (now WithYou) as a project volunteer, where he gained first hand experience. During this time, he also studied and worked as a Phlebotomist with NHS.
In 2009, Scott's commitment to the field continued as he secured his first paid role at ARCH Initiatives (now CGL), where he would spend the next 5.5 years, progressing through various roles and gaining his DANOS registration. During this period, Scott also completed Intuitive Recovery, which had an impact on his perspective by emphasising that dependency isn’t the only measure of a problematic relationship with alcohol.
These formative years left a lasting impact on Scott, fuelling a passion for sobriety that would eventually shape his own path, even if it took years for him to fully embrace it.
Photography & Sober Curiosity (2010-2012)
In 2010, feeling trapped and uninspired by a social life centred around weekend drinking, Scott picked up a camera for the first time. Living in his early twenties near Liverpool, it was common for Scott and his friends to drink every weekend ~ a cycle that felt unshakeable. But photography quickly became a meaningful escape ~ a creative outlet that provided clarity and a sense of purpose alcohol had dulled. He discovered a new way to express himself and feel present. However, he found himself stuck in this frustrating cycle ~ the anticipation of drinking each weekend, followed by the hangovers that left him drained and anxious, while his favourite photographers were out exploring freely.
By 2011, Scott’s energy, weekends, and money were increasingly consumed by alcohol, leaving him in a cycle that stifled his creativity and undermined his desire to travel and explore. Though he still found satisfaction in his career, he recognised that his drinking lifestyle was affecting his confidence.
In 2012, after the hangover from hell, Scott reached a turning point, and while the sober curious movement and alcohol-free drinks market hadn’t yet emerged, Scott began to question alcohol's role in his life. He reacted by joining a gym to rebuild his confidence and turned increasingly to photography, which gave him a natural high and sense of purpose without the lows of alcohol. His journey of sober curiosity had begun, guided by intuition, his work in the industry, and a growing desire to reclaim his time and creativity.
Fitness (2013-2014)
In 2013, Scott’s dedication to bodybuilding changed his relationship with alcohol. As he immersed himself in gym culture, he found that his fitness goals were incompatible with hangovers. Lifting not only improved his physical health but also provided a new community, mental clarity, and a sense of discipline he hadn’t experienced before. It was the first time in life where he got out exactly what he put in. Fitness gradually replaced his weekend drinking habits, and he began experimenting with moderation ~ reducing his drinking from every weekend to every other, and eventually, to once every few months. The gym became his escape, giving him more energy for activities like climbing & photography, which further fulfilled him.
This period also marked the drinking dread. Peer pressure and sober shaming still tempted him to drink occasionally, but each time he gave in, the hangovers felt worse, reinforcing his realisation that alcohol no longer aligned with his happiness. The dread that came with each hangover pushed him closer to the idea of leaving alcohol behind entirely.
Frog Rock, Wijaya Beach , Sri Lanka, XX14
In 2014, with the money and time saved from alcohol, Scott began looking toward a new chapter ~ travelling to places like Sri Lanka & Switzerland. Inspired by brands like NatGeo & Patagonia, and outdoor photographers like Jimmy Chin, he felt a pull toward nature and the fulfilment it offered, beyond what alcohol ever had. These trips became a chance to explore life beyond drinking, build his photography portfolio, and immerse himself places that reignited his sense of adventure.
Last Light, Switzerland, 31.12.14
While in Switzerland in 2014, on New Yeas Eve, Scott captured the sun setting over the Eiger, and experienced a huge wave of dopamine. At this moment Scott realised photography would provide a far greater high than the high’s he’d chased through alcohol, but without the lows.
Sober Travel (2015)
By 2015, after two years of exploring sober curiosity, Scott was ready for a new adventure. He decided to take a career break from alcohol treatment, aiming to develop his photography skills and gain new life experiences. With the confidence from the gym and a new perspective on life, he booked a one-way flight to Sydney, Australia, on a working holiday visa.
Shortly after arriving, Scott was sober shamed on a night out when someone suggested he needed to drink to enjoy his time in Australia. Instead of discouraging him, this moment fuelled his determination, leading him to commit to a year-long alcohol-free challenge. Drawing inspiration from Jack Osbourne’s Adrenaline Junkie, he set out to prove that life without alcohol could be just as exciting, if not more. Scott threw himself into adrenaline-filled activities like skydiving, scuba diving, taking an aviation lesson, and learning to surf ~ all showcasing the adventurous life he envisioned without alcohol. This felt like a full circle moment to watching Adrenaline Junkie as a teenager.
In Sydney, Scott also landed a job at Patagonia, his favourite outdoor brand, where he made friends with people who shared his passion for the outdoors. Free time was spent on surfing trips, hiking trips, and around this time, Instagram was gaining popularity. Scott quickly integrated into Sydney’s creative scene, attending Instagram meet-ups and building friendships through photography. Subsequently, his work improved, and caught attention, leading to his first major photography commission with Conde Nast Traveler, setting the foundation for his future career in the creative space.
With the money he saved by not drinking, Scott extended his travels by an additional three months, exploring the US, New Zealand, Dubai, and Bermuda. These experiences enriched his perspective and strengthened his commitment to an adventurous, alcohol-free life. This initial year of sobriety opened doors to many experiences, confirming his belief that a fulfilling, purposeful life was possible without alcohol, while laying the groundwork for what would eventually become Arclett.
Sobriety & Creative Career (2016-2019)
After completing his year-long alcohol-free challenge, Scott extended it for another year. Despite the stigma and moments of sober shaming, he pushed forward, valuing the clarity and stability sobriety offered. After his travels, Scott returned to the UK and moved to Oxford for a new start in his career, this time focusing on the corporate side of the alcohol treatment sector ~ toxicology. Although he missed the Sydney coastal scene, he found comfort in the steadiness of a new chapter, exploring beautiful places like the Jurassic Coast. In 2017 to celebrate his his second sober anniversary, Scott booked a trip to Norway, and during the trip, he committed to lifelong abstinence.
With sobriety fully integrated into his life, Scott turned his energy toward photography & creative work. Sobriety had sharpened his creative vision, helping him find his voice. He dedicated himself to honing his skills, expanding his services to freelancing as a creative consultant and diving into new areas like design, copywriting, and website development. Scott ran photography exhibitions, collaborated on tourism campaigns, and grew his portfolio with clients. This period made him realise a truth similar to his fitness journey ~ when he nurtures his passions with the clarity sobriety offers, he can thrive in ways he once thought impossible.
As Scott continued his travels to destinations like Switzerland, Bali, Italy, Portugal & Ireland, he remained inspired. The remote locations he explored further strengthened his connection to both his creativity and sobriety, reinforcing the belief that a fulfilling, adventurous life could be found without alcohol.
By 2018, Scott’s work took him to new heights (no pun intended), as he continued to expand his creative career, falling in love with the UK, and continuing to lay the foundation for the future he was building with Arclett.
Building Arclett (2020-2022)
Scott’s creative work and ability to travel came to a halt in March 2020. The pandemic led Scott to slow down, pause, and reflect. Noticing the toll the pandemic took on people's mental health, he started considering sharing his sober story for the first time. During times of uncertainty, Scott leaned into the stability that sobriety provided and dedicated an hour each day to photo walks to nurture his creativity. When restrictions eased he explore locally, leading him to develop a deeper appreciation for the UK.
In 2021, during the second lockdown, Scott shared his sober story publicly on Instagram for the first time. It was partly to inspire others, partly as a therapeutic process, but also, as a permanent answer to the FAQ, “Why don’t you didn’t drink?”
The story led to an overwhelming response, inspiring others to become sober curious, and some are now approaching 4 years sober. This underscored the need for an active community for those questioning their relationship with alcohol This feedback laid the groundwork for a way to contribute to alcohol prevention & sober inspiration on a larger scale.
With this vision in mind, Scott dedicated the next 18 months to building Arclett.
Founding Arclett (2022-Present)
In March 2022, Scott’s daughter was born, changing his world and inspiring him to create something meaningful. Later that year, Arclett was born ~ a name inspired by Loch Arklet, a remote spot in the Scottish wilderness where Scott realised how his love for sober living & nature could intertwine. He secured the trademark and laid the foundation for a new community for those questioning their relationship with alcohol.
Launching in line with DryJanuary 2023, Arclett aimed to reframe sobriety as a positive and empowering choice, subtly encouraging people to swap bars for outdoor adventures. By its first year, Arclett had grown to 3,500 members, and within another 10 months, it surpassed 9,500 ~ a testament to its success in inspiring intentional living and redefining fun.
In 2024, Scott became an associate for Alcohol Change UK, furthering his impact in the alcohol treatment field. His pro-choice stance emphasises that he is not anti-alcohol, but pro-choice, while challenging the stigma surrounding sobriety. With alcohol-related deaths at an all-time high, Scott’s work focuses on helping people reflect on their relationship with alcohol without judgment.
Reflecting on his journey, Scott sees Arclett as a full-circle moment, much like the inspiration he found in Jack Osbourne’s Adrenaline Junkie, which showed him that sobriety could be adventurous and fulfilling. This is mirrored in cultural shifts, such as bands like Deftones from his teenage years embracing the alcohol-free movement, showing that change is possible even in unexpected spaces.
Today, Arclett is a growing, stigma-free community, celebrating life beyond alcohol. Rooted in Scott’s lived experience, professional expertise, and creative vision, it offers a space for people to reconnect with themselves, nature, and the joys of sober living. By leveraging his photography and storytelling, Scott has created a brand that humanises alcohol prevention and inspires others to explore their own alcohol-free journeys.
There’s an irony to Arclett’s creation, as the photography, design, website, and community-building behind the brand epitomise sobriety, as none of it would have been possible while alcohol was holding Scott back. Sobriety unlocked the focus, creativity, and determination necessary to bring his vision to life.
As Scott approaches his first decade of sobriety, he reflects on whether this milestone will bring closure to the first chapter of his journey. What’s certain is that it opens an exciting new chapter, where everything he’s learned about his own path is now being channelled into giving back to others. Now he’s on a new adventure steering Arclett through its first decade, and invites you to join him on this journey.
