Our Founders
From our HunterHunter article:
STUDIO97, the brainchild of two dynamic local creatives, Lauren Wiltshire and Kate Fenton, is more than just a co-working space, it’s a vibrant community designed for creatives, makers, and big thinkers. The collaborative effort between the forces behind BASE Art Space (Lauren), Jack Jack Store + Studios, and CHROMA Jewellery (Kate), Studio97 was born from a shared desire to create something different – something personal.
“We were sipping Aperol Spritzes in the warehouse and just started dreaming it up. Within a few hours we were sketching floor plans, thinking up names, and working out the kind of energy we wanted to bring to Newcastle,” Kate said.
Six weeks later, that empty warehouse became a creative haven, complete with custom furniture, a velvet couch, and a bold new identity.
For Lauren, who grew up in Lake Macquarie, STUDIO97 is the culmination of years immersed in the local creative scene.
“The art scene here is electric. The people are the best part – so supportive, so open. That’s what makes spaces like this possible,” Lauren said.
With a background in art, design, finance, and heritage renovation, Lauren brings a multifaceted vision to everything she does, but her true passion lies in art education and fostering young talent.
Lauren Wiltshire
Kate’s path to STUDIO97 has been anything but linear – and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Over the past 30 years, I’ve done a little bit of everything – bar work, carpentry, events, and now jewellery-making and business. I’m not built for one job for life. I love dreaming up ideas and bringing them to life – and I get to do that with people like Lauren, who’s just this brilliant, driven, happy-go-lucky energy,” Kate said.
