Records from 1773 reference a small company on the banks of the Irk and Irwell called The Little Greene Dye Works of Collyhurst Wood. This 18th-century hamlet, once home to mills, craftsmen, and early color makers — still anchors the brand’s identity today.

The maps printed on each paint tin pay homage to that landscape and its role in shaping British manufacturing.

The Little Greene Paint Company was revived in 1996 by chemist David Mottershead, who believed paint should carry depth, authenticity, and the patience of true craftsmanship. His children, Ruth and Ben, now continue that vision in the family’s Welsh factory, overseeing each pigment, finish, and pattern with care.For them, color is personal: evenings testing samples at the kitchen table, days refining formulas at the mill, and a long-held devotion to preserving the integrity of British paintmaking. Under their stewardship, Little Greene remains a family-owned company rooted in heritage — proof that some crafts endure because a family chooses to keep them alive.