Well Nice Prints

I HAVE TO admit that I arrived to the Well Nice Prints studio last November pretty flustered. It was a travel day, and train delays and the cold rainy weather had made me feel more high strung than usual. But once I met Jo Stafford and her dog Squeegee, I began to feel more settled and we managed to have a conversation about the studio and her work. Well Nice Prints is an independent eco-friendly screen printing studio based in Norwich. They specialise in creating limited edition prints for local and global clients. 

Q: What drew you to screen printing?

To be honest, it was probably gig posters that got me into it. There was a huge gig poster movement in the US and I saw design studios and illustrators that I admire screenprinting for bands that I love. It made me want to be a part of that whole culture.

Q: How did you get started?

I remember graduating from school and being unsure of what to do next. All I knew was that I needed to be realistic and figure out a job. To gain experience I worked at an internship as a technician at an open access print studio for six months. During that period, I found myself wondering why there wasn't anything similar in Norwich.

Before starting Well Nice Prints in 2020, I was co-founder and studio manager of Print To The People (now called Norwich Printmaking Hub). It is an artist-led social enterprise dedicated to the production and promotion of traditional printmaking processes. To this day, they still provide affordable and accessible printmaking facilities for artists, designers, students, community groups and the public.

Q: How long have you been doing this? Was there any big breakthrough moment for your artwork?

I think I have about 20 years or more of printing experience. I don't think so - maybe just more small breakthroughs every time I learn something more about the process or complete a screen print that has pushed me technically.

Q: What do you love about what you do?

I think I love the problem solving aspect of the work: like what is the best way to print this image to make it the best version it can be, what are the materials I need, what is the best ink to use in certain situations. Even after all these years, it’s still a challenge and I find that I’m still learning something new every time.

I think the most exciting part is the first time you do a print. When you lift the screen, there’s a bit of anticipation and it’s kind of magical to see:
“Oh, it’s worked!”

Q: And what are some things you wish people knew about your work or screen printing in general?

I guess I’d like for people to understand more about the whole process of screen printing, and to emphasise how much it differs from digital printing. Also, why it may take longer to produce but also the benefits and rewards of working with such a process.

Q: What is the biggest challenge running Well Nice Prints?

We’re a small business so we have to do everything:  from the everyday stuff like fixing the lights to paying bills and maintenance. I need to make sure that I do everything (insurance, bills, rent) and that the stock is up to date.

On top of that, other admin stuff and social media needs to get done before I even start printing. Social media is pretty time consuming and I find that I need to be in the mood for it. There’s a pressure to always appear positive, and also there’s only a few more ways to say, “here’s a new print”.

Q: Any big plans for 2026?

Ah, we haven't really got anything major in the works - so I guess we just keep going, doing what we are meant to do. I’ve worked with really cool artists this year. Stuff does pop up and we get work from word of mouth, so I’m lucky in that sense. Honestly, it’s the ebb and flow of the business, but we got to keep going.