Fantasy figures help Nemesis steam ahead

FANS of fiction based on gothic and so-called steampunk culture are fuelling the success of a company exhibiting at the Spring Fair.

Nemesis Now was formed in 2003 by Nicholas Chadwick, who used to run Aynsley China's resin figures operation.

Now the firm, which employs 18 people in Sutherland Road, Longton, is the UK's largest designer and distributor of fantasy figurine products.

The most popular of its range include fairies, as well as creations based on the Victorian-era technology, based on the science-fiction writings of Jules Verne and HG Wells – called steampunk.

Mr Chadwick said: "We saw that there were lots of companies specialising in bits and bobs, but we saw the opportunity to provide a business that covered the whole market."

It now specialises in in-house designers, as well as gothic graphic artist Ann Stokes and tattoo specialist Big Pete, and currently has a turnover of about £3 million.