Nauti Studios was founded by Nat Cheney in 2014.

Nat is a builder.

A hands-on builder of our sustainably made spaces. A builder of creative communities. And a builder of businesses — including our non-profit organisation.

Nat came into this journey very organically.

After being the weird creative kid growing up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, she moved to Melbourne, where she studied illustration for four years.
Returning to Sydney for a brief break, she realised she was incredibly sun-deprived and had a new appreciation for Sydney’s weather and its accessible, varied landscapes — something she’d never had before.

She decided to stay.
But she knew, as someone inspired and invigorated by being around other creative and innovative people, she needed a creative workspace.
A space where people were interesting, ideas were plentiful, and where learning, growth, and creativity could thrive.

She found a rundown warehouse that was so dilapidated no one wanted to touch it, taught herself to build on Google Images, got sustainable and repurposed materials, and brought the first Nauti Studios to life.
In 2014, the first studio was opened in Stanmore. A huge open 600sqm warehouse loft space with workspaces for 30+ people, coworking desks, and venue for hundreds of creative and cultural events, photoshoots, film shoots, workshops, meetings, and more.

Nat’s original plan was to return to full-time illustration once the Stanmore studio was built.
But in 2017, she was approached by a family who owned a building in the Blue Mountains.
They wanted to lease it to someone who would give something back to the local community and loved the community Nat had built.

Nat asked around in the Mountains to see if there’d be interest, and soon started receiving emails like:
“Yes! Get me out of the house!”
and
“Yes! I need to be around more creative people!

So, in 2017, Nat refurbished the building — which needed a lot of love — and built Nauti Studios Blue Mountains:
a 250sqm handmade, sustainable space that is now the work space for 16+ creatives, many hot deskers, and local community events.

However, in 2013, she couldn’t find anything that fit.
What she could find were clinical corporate environments and unprofessional warehouse spaces — but nothing that felt quite right.

After doing an improv course, she met other creative people who were equally frustrated by Sydney’s lack of creative spaces.
And after hearing many people have a big ol’ whinge about it on multiple occasions, she thought,
“Well, if everyone wants this thing — someone’s got to make one!?”

In 2023, after almost 10 wonderful years in the massive Stanmore warehouse loft, Nat was given one month’s notice to relocate.
She then found the incredible buildings in Glebe.

The latest Nauti Studios launched in December 2023 — in three multi-story warehouses that join together.
After Nat renovating the 1200sqm property and building our sustainably made spaces, there are now 50+ creatives working at the Glebe studio, alongside many hot deskers.
And though the space is still young, it has already hosted thousands of people attending workshops, exhibitions, events, photoshoots, film shoots, and more.
It’s Nauti’s third successful, thriving, purpose-driven creative community hub.

Nauti Studios is an artist-run non-profit.
Everything earned goes back into running our creative community spaces as affordably and sustainably as possible.
Our aim is to provide affordable space for creative people, supporting both the local community and creative industries.

Sustainability is core to Nat’s ethos — from construction materials to furniture, most of what’s used is repurposed, repaired, or locally sourced.
And equality and inclusion are embedded into Nauti’s foundations. As someone who is a part of several minority groups, Nat has created Nauti to be a space for people of all walks of life and professions.

What began as a need for her own workspace has grown into something much, much bigger.
Nat knows how important inspiration, connection, and community are for people who are driven to create, innovate, explore, and grow. And how much good these communities can bring to people in the local area. 

And it’s her goal to continue providing space to support lovely people in finding connection, growth, and well-being through strong communities — and to pursue their dreams in a welcoming and professional space.

The name “Nauti” comes from Nat’s love of puns and wordplay.
When building the first studio, an architect friend asked Nat if she was going to have a theme for the space.
In retrospect, she realised they meant a colour palette theme, but with her love of the environment and feeling at home in the ocean, Nat automatically thought:
“Ocean theme!”

And the nautical wordplay came naturally.
Because what else is really important in workspace culture and any community?
A little dash of fun.

Now yee know our story!
So come aboard our merry ship to get creative, get inspired, and connect with your local creative community.