Earlier this week I went on a day trip to Cranfield Colours the manufacturers of the lovely Caligo Safe Wash Ink. They are working on a new product and had asked Ian Phillips along for his input and I asked if I could tag along. Ian is a relief printmaker whose work can be seen here.
Cranfield has been making inks for three generations. Michael Craine is the current MD and overseas the entire business – Cranfield also make commercial printing inks and Spectrum Artists paints. Angela Brown works alongside Michael in development of products. Angela is an ink chemist with the benefit of having an MA in printmaking so is passionate about the ink manufacture and understands the processes and demands put on any ink.
Caligo Safe Wash has been in production for 10 years. It is a ground breaking product. An oil based ink that is water washable, allowing studios to use beautiful, rich, oil based inks with the benefit being able to clean up using just soap and water.