Nick started Incubate in 2017, motivated by his passion for printmaking. He achieved his BA in Fine Art  Honours at Northumbria University, and his Graduate Fellowship in Printmaking with master printmaker Alfons Bytautas in 2012.

Since then he has led printmaking workshops with many organisations including Newcastle University, Northern Print, Northumbria University and Vane Gallery. Nick has also worked with schools and colleges, running workshops with students as well as CPD sessions.

Nick works with a wide range of materials, printing onto surfaces which include paper, glass, Perspex, fabric, wood, ceramics and more. He seeks to record the marks made through making. Through combining different techniques and ways of drawing, he is always looking for exciting and unexpected results.

Alfons is a painter & printmaker. Born in Scotland, he is now based in Newcastle upon Tyne.  He studied at Edinburgh College of Art before going to Paris to study at Atelier 17, the studio of the esteemed Modernist printmaker Stanley William Hayter.

Until 2009, Bytautas was Master Printmaker at Edinburgh Printmakers' Workshop, where he was instrumental in developing and promoting innovative print techniques. He has directed numerous print workshop sessions throughout the UK and in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain & Japan.

He currently works for Northumbria University and is co-director of Incubate Experimental Printmaking studio.

Shiori is a printmaker and surface pattern designer based in the North East of England. Born in Newcastle with family from Nagoya, Japan, Shiori intertwines influences from the serene landscapes of Northumberland and the rich hues of Japan and it's exquisite natural world that enriches it.

After graduating with a First Class BA Hons in Textiles and Surface Design at the Northern School of Art, Shiori launched Naruse Design. Specialising in bespoke wallpaper and interior furnishings, she proudly advocates for UK manufacturing. Since joining Incubate in July 2023, Shiori has redirected her focus to traditional printmaking.

Extending beyond the studio, Shiori has shared her passion through print workshops conducted for esteemed organisations such as The Baltic, Seven Stories, TWAM, and more. Her dedication reaches diverse communities, including those in recovery, individuals experiencing homelessness, and young people facing adversity.

At the heart of Shiori's work lies a deep connection to botanicals and nature, exploring their profound impact on mental well-being through printmaking. Her workshops aspire to transcend cultural barriers, fostering unity through the universal language of creativity.