What is a screen print? We talk to screen printing duo, Shoji Silkscreen

Q: Hi guys, it’s great to chat with you. Could you tell us who you are and when Shoji began? 

Alex: I'm Alex Nunn, a 33-year-old with a decade of experience in fine art and textile screen printing. I founded Shoji Silkscreen with my business partner Joe to combine a love for the craft with a drive to expand its possibilities. Though we moved into our new space late last year, the vision has been years in the making. Our mission is to push the boundaries of screen printing—both in technique and in the industries that can benefit from it. 

Joe: We founded Shoji to create a creative playground with no constraints, where we can be really hands-on in our collaborative approach to working with artists. Our aim is to not merely reproduce an image or painting but to enhance and elevate it. Using all our years of experience and technical knowledge, we always strive to bring an extra dimension to a print and push things beyond the limit. 

Q: Can you talk us through the silkscreen process?

Alex: Silkscreen printing is a technique that uses a mesh screen stretched on an aluminium frame to transfer ink onto a surface, such as paper, fabric, wood, or metal. The process starts with creating a stencil, also known as a screen, which determines where the ink will pass through. Each colour in a design requires a separate stencil, and the colours are layered one by one to build the final image.

Once the stencil is prepared, ink is applied to the screen and pushed through the mesh using a squeegee, transferring it onto the material beneath. The ink only passes through the open areas of the stencil, ensuring precise detail and vibrant colour. After each layer is printed, the ink is dried before adding the next colour, creating a rich and dynamic final print.

While traditionally, and maybe most commonly, known for t-shirts and posters, silkscreen printing is an incredibly adaptable method. At Shoji, we take this time-honoured process and apply a modern approach—experimenting with new materials, techniques, and applications to push its creative and industrial potential even further. Whether producing one-of-a-kind artworks or large-scale editions, silkscreen printing offers endless possibilities for bold, high-quality results.

Joe: Basically high tech, space age stencils being used to apply layers of colour to a surface… refined from ancient Chinese techniques. Through many evolutions and iterations we have the modern process, which we put our own stamp on.

Q: What other finishes/techniques do you work in?

Alex: We primarily print on top-quality fine art papers, but we’ve also worked with materials like wood, metal, and perspex. We love experimenting with different techniques, often combining silkscreen printing with digital and other processes to create unique textures and striking visual effects.

Innovation is at the heart of what we do—we’re always collaborating with suppliers to develop new finishes, from high-gloss varnishes and specially formulated silver glitter inks to 24ct gold leaf, all meticulously applied by hand for a refined, high-end result. We’ve also developed specialised methods that add depth and a 3D layered effect to our prints—but of course, we can’t reveal all our secrets!

Joe: We have printed multiple layers of different textures onto plastered board to recreate the surface of a wall, then printed artwork on top of this, to recreate original outdoor wall pieces. Every piece we work on requires an individual approach and determines the techniques used and finishes applied. We are always looking to go beyond slapping a spot varnish on a giclée print as a uniform approach and celebrate the manual, tactile nature of silkscreen printing.

Q: Where did the name Shoji come from?

Alex: ‘Shoji’ comes from the traditional Japanese sliding door made of a latticed screen and thin white paper. The name resonated with us because of its similarities to the materials and techniques used in silkscreen printing. I also have a deep appreciation for Japanese craftsmanship and its meticulous attention to detail, which aligns with how we approach our work. But honestly, we just think it’s a great word—it has nice alliteration with ‘Silkscreen’ and always sparks curiosity about who we are and what we do!

Joe: The aforementioned sliding doors are also visually reminiscent of pieces of paper on our drying racks, so the name felt serendipitous on a number of levels. In a spiritual sense, the nature of things sliding from one space to another seamlessly was something I was very keen to imbue within the culture of our business, after many years working in chaotic environments.

Q: What has been your favourite project to date?

Alex: One of my favourite projects so far has to be our recent collaboration with the artist Mr Controversial. It was an ambitious and exciting challenge that involved two distinct artworks, each brought to life with a total of 40 completely unique, hand-painted oil backgrounds. The use of oil paint added an incredible depth and texture, with bold, visible brushstrokes running through the entirety of the image—even after being screen-printed on top.

To make things even more interesting, we split the images into sections and printed the designs onto these backgrounds using multiple layers of meticulously hand-mixed, water-based inks. This approach resulted in a stunning variety of vibrant, one-of-a-kind prints—no two are exactly alike. In fact, across the two artworks, we ended up with an impressive 120 different colour combinations.

While working with so many colour variations of the same design can be a time-consuming process, it’s also a true testament to the craftsmanship and hands-on nature of silkscreen printing. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing the final results—the way different hues interact, the striking contrasts, and the way each print has its own personality. It’s a perfect example of how a few subtle colour changes can completely transform an artwork.

Joe: Recent highlights include an all over print on a swimming cap for a design agency in London called Soft Power XYZ. The printed swimming cap had to stand up to the test of being worn by an intrepid swimmer diving into the Thames for a photoshoot. I really enjoy unusual technical challenges such as this, finding the correct ink that will bond to the latex cap, be waterproof and stretch without cracking when worn. Then also figuring out a printing system where the print will have clean edges, which is certainly a test on a double sided piece of stretchy rubber!

Q: What are your future aspirations for Shoji?

Alex: At Shoji, our core mission is to be both innovative and creative, constantly pushing the boundaries of what screen printing can achieve. We see it as an underutilised process with so much untapped potential, and we believe there are many more ways to approach and rethink its applications beyond the traditional art world.

Looking ahead, we’re eager to expand into new areas such as interior design and branding, where screen printing could offer a fresh and distinctive approach. From custom-printed wall panels and furniture surfaces to high-end packaging and tactile brand elements, we see huge opportunities to bring our expertise into these spaces. More than anything, we’d be excited about the potential for collaboration—working closely with designers, architects, and brands to create unique, visually striking pieces that blend artistry with functionality. By bridging the gap between traditional screen printing and contemporary design, we would hope to redefine how this craft is used and appreciated.

Joe: We are excited to be working on a number of ‘Shoji Projects’. These are self initiated forays into textile design, sculptural forms for interiors and experimental work with aluminium and other robust materials. These will enable us to create original projects that widen the scope of what our brand creates. These projects run alongside our day to day work and enable us to test our ideas of where we feel the silkscreen process sits within our society and broaden its application.

Learn more about Shoji Silkscreen.