User:Yanwell

Chrome and Black is an Aerosol Art shop situated in London”s east end, specializing in Spray paint and graffiti related merchandise. Started by two London graffiti artists, Yanni Paizis and Darren Farrell in April 2009. Having been close friends since 1995 the two started the company with an investment of £14,000. The shop is the only one of its kind currently in the London area. Since their marriage Yanni and Darren have expanded their shop and moved to Bethnal Green.

History The name for the shop ‘Chrome and Black’ was an indirect result of a lack of colour spray paint available to London graffiti artists during the 1990’s. Graffiti artists from other European countries would often remark that when they visited London they predominantly saw chrome and black coloured graffiti in and throughout the city with a distinct lack of colour. Chrome and Black was not the first Aerosol art shop London had seen. In 2002 a shop called HQ was opened in Brixton indoor village market on Coldharbour Lane by John Huges and Jason Finnigan. HQ was seen at the time as the first genuine graffiti shop that had existed in London although some will argue that the first shop of this kind was Four Star General based in Camden Town, pre-dating HQ by almost a decade. However, as All Star General was not owned by a graffiti artist it was commonly felt that the products were overly expensive, revealing a lack of respect for the graffiti artist’s who had no other option than to shop there. This resulted in Four Star General closing down some time after the opening of HQ mostly due to it’s higher priced products and less ‘genuine’ credentials. During the first three years of trading Chrome and Black has sponsored numerous charities including Art Against Knives, The British Red Cross and Cancer Research. Forms of sponsorship range from discount and free products, to the supply of artwork and artists for free and free tuition for youth work-shops.

In August 2010 Chrome and Black staged the first ‘Battle of Waterloo’. This is a ‘free to enter’ graffiti competition based at Waterloo’s Leak street graffiti tunnel. The idea was to showcase talent from all over the UK with artists competing for a £500 cash prize. Since then Chrome and Black organises the competition annually with over 50 participating artists, a free youth work-shop open to everyone and attracting over 3000 spectators on the day.

In January 2012 Chrome and Black opened its second shop in Brighton’s ‘Kemp town’. Chrome and Black Brighton is a branch of the Chrome and Black brand of shops, similar to the first shop in London but retaining it’s own regional identity. Products Chrome and Black’s primary retail product is spray paint. Stocking five different brands produced in Spain and Germany which are considered to be the best on the market. Chrome and Black also sell urban clothing, artwork, markers/Inks, books/magazines, DVD’s, jewellery and accessories.