After leaving university he took a driving job at a local printing company while looking for a ‘proper’ job, and the company then cottoned on to his design and graphics skills. Bingo! Four years ago Chris and a colleague set up on their own having spotted an opportunity in digital print. His other venture is aerial photography firm We Fly Drones.
What is your nickname?
‘Ginge’, ‘Kingston’ and others that are probably not suitable for publishing
Why did you get into printing?
As a stop gap before I tried to get into the advertising industry doing digital animation, but it’s a decision that has lead to great things
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Domhnall Gleeson or Jesse Eisenberg
What is your dream bit of kit?
Landa W50, Océ Arizona 6170 XTS and Zünd G3 digital cutter
What is your favourite saying?
Sometimes it’s the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine
What is your favourite album?
Currently, Whispers by Passenger
What is your greatest luxury in life?
Time to spend with friends and family
What is the strangest job you’ve had?
Because of the name of my company, we once had a guy come in who literally wanted us to copy his fingerprint. After explaining we weren’t a fingerprint recognition company the guy was still adamant that he wanted his fingerprint copied, so I said all we can do is take a photocopy. He seemed happy with that so I put his hand on the glass of the machine, did a copy. He paid, said thank you very much and left. Very strange indeed
Who would you like to be stuck on a desert island with?
Stephen Fry, Derren Brown and Bear Grylls
Who or what makes you laugh?
Russell Kane
What piece of kit would you like to see invented?
A machine that could print full colour (plus white and UV) permanent tattoos onto people’s skin from digitally supplied artwork. Also, as we do vinyl garments, I would love to see a machine invented that could weed vinyl as it cuts
Most embarrassing moment?
Watching myself in utter fear/stress on national television recently
What’s your worst fashion disaster?
Anything my mum used to dress me in as a baby, those photos are terrible
Which superpower would you like?
The ability to fly
Where would you go if you could time-travel?
The Jurassic age to see if all the dinosaurs were as they look in all the films
What was your childhood obsession?
Space and becoming an astronaut
What is the worst kind of print?
90% coverage posters being run out of a CAD plotter
What was the best business deal that you’ve pulled off?
Managing to secure the print and all the signage work of a well-known garden chain
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who would always help another if I could
Life is…?
What you make of it. Don’t be scared to take chances and always trust your instinct
