Highlands and Islands Enterprise
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Case study

The Highland Print Studio

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Creative opportunities

For nearly 40 years the Highland Print Studio (HPS), sitting on the banks of the River Ness, has been a creative hub for the community.

It offers a place for established artists and beginners alike to discover and explore printmaking and digital imaging. Whether it’s screen-printing, etching, or large-format photographic printing, the studio is all about making high-quality printmaking accessible to everyone.

At HIE we’ve worked with the social enterprise for many years, backing them through various projects. We’ve provided investment and specialist advice to support product development, net zero action, and fair work practices. Most recently, we've helped them upgrade their digital suite to support income growth.

HPS attracts revenue funding from Creative Scotland and the Highland Council, as well as project funding from a range of partners. See our film to find out what happens at Highland Print Studio.

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Big prints, big opportunities

While traditional printmaking is at the core of HPS, they’re growing their digital services in tandem to bring in new income and reduce their reliance on partner funding.

With HIE’s support, they’ve upgraded their high-end digital suite and we've helped them expand their large-format printing services.

This isn’t just any printing service - it’s the only one of its kind in the Highlands, offering gallery-quality prints that artists and photographers rave about. The difference? 

Unlike online print services, photographers, artists and designers can visit the studio, chat with the team, see test prints, and fine-tune their work before the final print. The team can help with a range of activities including digital restoration of old photos, and mixed media using traditional and digital techniques.

 

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Ready to innovate?

Highland Print Studio's digital suite is a key part of the organisation's facility, artistic programme and earned income targets.

The team has been working with our innovation service to look at ways to boost promotion of their services. They’ve also been exploring new product offerings – in-house design and production of original merchandise is just one of the many options.

If you’d like to talk to HIE about creating new opportunities for your business – see more here:


HIE’s Innovation Service

Iceland Innovation Week Web (1)

Innovating in Iceland

Alison joined Iceland Innovation Week 2025 on a business journey with HIE’s innovation team. Exploring the themes: climate change and sustainability; renewable energy; disruptive tech; investors, health; gaming and deep tech; and AI was a brilliant opportunity for the group of 13 local businesses to step into an international space full of ideas, creativity and connection.

Alison came away with some new contacts in the creative and tech worlds, and plenty of inspiration to feed back into work here in the Highlands and Islands. She said:

“Iceland Innovation Week was an amazing and inspiring learning experience. It was so interesting to meet people from both science and the arts who are working in the most creative ways to combat and raise awareness of the issues caused by our changing climate."

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Creativity, community, and great craic

The studio is a space where people come together to learn, create, and connect.

The HPS team delivers classes, workshops, residencies, commissions, exhibitions and a range of digital imaging, large−format photographic printing and high−resolution scanning services.
 
One of their standout community programmes is Wise Guys. Initially designed in 2011 for men aged 50+ and now welcoming those 60+, the programme encourages participants - many with no prior art experience - to dive into printmaking.

And it’s a hit! The latest round was oversubscribed, and some of the early participants have even come back as mentors. Every Wednesday morning, the studio buzzes with the sounds of printmaking and lively chat.

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Green ahead of their time

Green credentials and doing their bit to tackle the climate crisis has long been part of the ethos at HPS. Hear from Alison about their ongoing journey.

If you're looking for help with your journey to net zero, have a look at our support programmes to find out how we can help. 

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