About US

Chromocat Press launched in 2024, and is run by Stephen Neal and Jo Chipperfield. It’s based just outside of Sydney in Hazelbrook, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

Chromocat Press was founded as Cottontail Press in 2017 by Mark and Nina Lipscombe, originally offering letterpress as well as fine art printing, and wedding stationery design and printing.

In 2020 Stephen Neal was brought on board to continue the successful and busy fine art printing business in Mount Victoria, after Nina and Mark emigrated to the US.

Covid hit within a few months, and Cottontail suffered as most other small creative businesses did, but didn’t collapse thanks to our loyal following. Stephen took over sole running of the business, and in 2023 moved premises to Hazelbrook, where the studio is now.

With the move and the exit of the business’ founders, a re-brand was needed to reflect the re-orientation of the business to photographic and fine-art giclee printing, digitisation and photography services.

Why Chromocat?

‘Chromo’ was the name used for early colour prints created using the chromo-lithography technique in the 19th century. They were used for book illustrations, posters and postcards, but also enabled colour reproductions of fine art, making art more accessible and affordable to ordinary people. We added cat just because we like cats.

About Stephen

Stephen is a photographer and videographer, as well as Chromocat’s print master. He originally trained as a cinematographer and as a result is particularly highly skilled with lighting subjects for photography. He also has an ASMR YouTube channel, Dreamscape Boulevard.

About Jo

Jo is a ceramicist and photographer, and is one of the convenors of the ceramics studio at the Blackheath Art Society BARTS). She handles the backroom business of Chromocat. Her day job is as a grant development advisor at Macquarie University, and she previously ran her own copywriting business. She also hand-makes paper and notebooks.

Acknowledgements

You would not believe how much time and how many names it took to settle on Chromocat – special thanks must go to brainstorming friends, especially Ruth Cox and David Duloy.

Special thanks also to communication designer Hannah Surtees  who designed the logo, Anne-Maree Kerr of AMK Consulting for redeveloping the website and Feather the cat for lending her fine feline silhouette for the logo.