About
Formally know as Jo Sonja's UK Shop our new Paints & Pigments online store is now the main importer and distributer of Chroma and Jo Sonja paints throughout the UK and Europe.
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The business changed hands in 2026 and is now run by Emma Cook who knew Lynn for over 10 years and worked with the paints for just as long.
The Jo Sonja paints have always been of the highest quality. The Matte Flow Acrylics are flow formula acrylics offering the opacity of colour and the beautiful, velvet matte finish associated with traditional gouache plus superb handling and brushing characteristics. Unlike gouache, they are water-resistant and will not chip or crack when cured.
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Unlike typical craft paints, Jo Sonja's offers a professional range designed for the discerning artist. Each colour is two to three times more concentrated, ensuring that your creations will pop with permanent, brilliant hues. Simplified use comes standard, as these paints are designed for immediate application without the need for complex instructions. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, Jo Sonja’s Artists Colours are engineered to elevate your artistic vision to new heights.
ASTM Standards and Jo Sonja's Artist Colours
​Jo Sonja's Artist Colours are crafted using the highest quality pure pigments, adhering to rigorous ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) standards. This independent body ensures reliable classification for pigment lightfastness and health labelling standards. Each colour in our range boasts an ASTM rating, affirming its resistance to fading and guaranteeing that the hues will remain vibrant and true for generations.
Our ongoing commitment to quality is reflected in continual testing and stringent quality controls, allowing artists to trust implicitly in the enduring brilliance and performance of our paints.
Jo Sonja's Paint Quality and Standards
ASTM Ratings: Ensuring Colour Longevity
ASTM 1 – Excellent Lightfastness: Highest rating, indicating superior resistance to fading.
ASTM 2 – Very Good Lightfastness: Very reliable in maintaining colour integrity over time.
Note: All Jo Sonja’s paints are rigorously tested and carry either an ASTM 1 or 2 rating, ensuring top-tier durability and fade-resistance for your artwork.
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Archival Quality:
Archival Standards: Jo Sonja’s paints and mediums are not only lightfast but also archival and lignin-free, making them an ideal choice for artworks intended for long-term preservation.
By using Jo Sonja’s paints, artists ensure their creations remain as vivid and impactful as the day they were painted, backed by our commitment to quality and enduring performance.
Jo Sonja's® Artist Colours & Mediums
Founded in 1985 by Jim Cobb, Director of Chroma, and celebrated folk artist Jo Sonja Jansen, Jo Sonja's Decorative Painting System is a testament to innovation and artistic tradition. The collaboration aimed to fulfil the sophisticated demands of serious artists, combining Chroma's cutting-edge technology with versatile, long-lasting products. The system offers unparalleled flexibility, enabling artists to master historical techniques and pioneer new ones, thus securing a robust foothold in the decorative painting market.
Artists around the globe have come to recognize and value the brand's exceptional quality. Jo Sonja’s continues to influence the decorative arts significantly, with Chroma's commitment to innovation and excellence ensuring its ongoing leadership and presence in the market.
"Made from the finest quality pure pigments, the colors will remain vibrant and true for generations."
Jo Sonja Website
Since starting afresh as Paints & Pigments, we have made sure to continue this level of quality and are slowly introducing new brands to our catalogue including: Golden High Flow Acrylics and Kaleido paints - both of which are excellent paints for airbrushing.
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We also proudly stock Gaahleri airbrushing equipment with a range of airbrushes and compressors now available.
The Decorative Painting System
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With the range of paints, also comes a range of mediums to allow unlimited techniques. Acrylic mediums are invaluable if you wish to change the paint consistency or alter drying times. Chroma has discovered ways of allowing the same set of colours to be applied on a variety of surfaces such as wood, metal, glass and textiles. The same colours (with the use of the mediums) can be stencilled, stamped, crackled or used in a host of elaborate faux finishes. By experimenting with the mediums, there are endless possibilities that can be achieved. Technique information sheets, designed to inspire your imagination, can be found on this website. Chroma continues its research and development of new products.
