An interview with Wingshan Huntley, Warp Witch at Warp Miniatures.
Nottingham-based Warp Miniatures has been crafting fantasy tabletop miniatures and games since 2010, with a global community of painters and players. With support from Create Growth N2 (CGN2), the family-run business is expanding its creative universe through Twisted Spire – a new sister brand that reimagines tabletop gaming with inclusive storytelling, immersive tech, and hybrid play experiences.
Tell us about Warp Miniatures and how it all began
My husband, Alex Huntley, began Warp Miniatures as a university project over 10 years ago, and it’s grown into this wonderful thing that it is today.
We create fantasy tabletop games and miniatures with very character-driven, whimsical pieces. Our flagship game is called ArcWorlde – a fantasy skirmish game where warbands, heroes and monsters are pitted against each other in the field of combat.
As the business grew, so did the team – and it became a real family affair. His mum handles packing and logistics, his dad casts the resin miniatures, and I’m part of it too. I’m an artist, curator, and game designer – and I like to call myself the ‘Warp Witch’. I help out creatively where I can.
Why is this an exciting time for the business?
I’m building a sister brand called Twisted Spire, specialising in miniatures and games for a wider variety of audiences – stories that challenge power and embrace new perspectives. Tabletop gaming is quite a male-dominated world, so as a woman – and a Chinese woman – I often don’t see myself represented in these spaces. I want to create new things that invite new people into the hobby.
Our first release is Siren’s Oath, a vengeful mermaid tabletop game currently in preview on Gamefound. It’s a coven of vengeful mermaids who shape a city’s destiny while dealing with themes of ecological grief and generational trauma. The world is broken – and they have to decide whether to destroy it or restore it.
How did your journey with CGN2 begin?
I first connected with the University of Nottingham’s Virtual and Immersive Production Studio a couple of years ago through an art project I was working on to create a life-sized holographic mermaid. When I decided to start Twisted Spire, I reached out again – and that’s when I saw the opportunities available at CGN2 for creative, Nottingham businesses.
What impact has CGN2 had on your business development?
The CGN2 workshops helped us think about how we talk about ourselves as a business and how we pitch to funders or investors. I’m more used to arts funding than business funding, so it was like a different language. The team supported us in applying for funding and helped us to understand what’s possible with technology.
The experience helped us to be more ambitious – to see how we could scale up and innovate our business. One of the things we’re really hoping to do is develop hybrid forms of tabletop play – and we’re exploring ways to connect players sitting around a physical table with others online, using interactive screens and immersive tech to create a shared experience, which is really exciting.
Why did you choose to base the business in Nottingham?
Alex studied at the University of Nottingham, and he chose it because of its strong reputation as a hub for miniature wargaming. In the tabletop gaming world, Nottingham is famously known as the ‘Lead Belt’ – a historic centre for miniature games production and innovation that still plays a major role in shaping the industry today.
For tabletop gaming enthusiasts, Nottingham is almost like a pilgrimage destination. People from all over the world come here to experience its rich gaming culture. On top of that, Nottingham’s community of indie creators and game developers is incredibly vibrant and supportive – we’re really lucky to be here.
What’s next for your business?
We’ve showcased our work at conventions across the US and Europe, and we’re steadily growing a global community of players who share our passion for tabletop gaming.
Right now, Twisted Spire is in its early pilot phase. We’re using everything we’ve learned through the programme to apply for Create Growth funding, which would help us take the brand to the next level.
We’re also working towards establishing a physical space in Nottingham – a welcoming hub where people can drop in, learn to paint miniatures, play our games, and connect with others.
Alongside our hand-cast artisan miniatures, we’re expanding our range of 3D-printable models – a growing part of our business that allows us to evolve with the times while keeping that small-batch, handcrafted feel that makes our work unique. We’re always developing new content to help bring more people into the hobby.
If you’re a creative, digital, or tech business in Nottingham or Nottinghamshire, explore how CGN2 can support your growth. Check your eligibility and apply today!
