Our story

Hello – thanks for dropping in!

I’m James, the founder of InkyPrintworks.

What is InkyPrintworks?

We’re a small business built around a big idea: that a company can be good for everyone. That includes you (our wonderful customers), the people you’re buying for, and while we’re at it, society and the planet too.

Why personalised gifts?

How often have you heard the phrase 'it’s the thought that counts'?  Usually, it's just a polite excuse for a slightly rubbish present.

But when a gift is truly thoughtful, it means the world. A present that shows the giver really knows you: the things that make you smile, laugh, remember. That’s the magic we’re aiming for.

At InkyPrintworks, we make it easy to create genuinely thoughtful, unique personalised gifts. Our signature style is the personalised paint chart: a beautifully designed print where you choose the colours and captions to reflect what matters most to your loved one. It’s a simple but powerful way to show how much you care.

Where did the paint chart idea come from?

The prototypes have evolved through trial and error, quite a few late nights, and lots of laughter with friends and family. We've discovered that the paint chart format is the perfect canvas to celebrate someone’s passions, quirks or milestones.

Finding a user-friendly way to personalise each chart took a bit more work. The site is still evolving, and we’re always working on ways to make it better. If you’ve got feedback or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Just drop us a line at hello@inkyprintworks.com.

What’s next?

Over the coming months, we’ll be expanding the range: not just new personalised paint chart themes, but also different print designs and formats (in other words, the things we're actually printing on).

Is there something you'd particularly like to see? Let us know.

A bit about me

Life can work in funny ways sometimes. I’m a proud husband and dad based in leafy South-West London, with a long career working in data systems and analytics (it's slightly more interesting than it sounds).

Like many people, I’d often mused about doing something more creative, but work and family always came first.. and scrambling up Lakeland fells came next. Suddenly, a family crisis meant stepping back to take on a caring role. The crisis meant a pause, and the pause created space. Add in a love of design, some technical know-how, lots of curiosity and even more coffee… and InkyPrintworks was born.

We’re still a tiny outfit (one-man-band levels of tiny), but we’re growing… and learning as we go.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

James