1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TATTOOING? WHAT WAS THE MAIN REASON BEHIND THE CHOICE TO BECOME A TATTOOER?
I will have been tattooing 8 years this summer. The main reason I was interested in becoming a tattooer was a combination between hardcore bands and music as well as fetishism and it’s ties to body modification. I wanted to be part of a world where I could dress and appear as I wanted, rather than having a corporate uniform. I had jobs like that before I became a tattooer and I felt very alien. It was not an easy road to get there, I spent almost as long finding my in, but ultimately it’s been the most valuable and rewarding.
2. WHAT ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
I think I have a huge range of influences, some I guess are more apparent and others probably not. Typically I look to those who came before me and people will notice designs from American and English traditional tattooing. There’s certainly more obscure references from found objects, advertisements and packaging that work their way into what I draw too. I try not to be too narrow, whilst I definitely think I have certain strengths I also try to be a solid all rounder. That’s why you’ll see me make single needle tattoos, pattern work and smaller Japanese tattoos too.
3. WHO INSPIRES YOU THE MOST?
I think inspiration can come from almost anywhere, I don’t tend to switch off from it and my phone is full with tens of thousands of pictures of things I’ve seen online or out and about on the course of my day to day life. I also really enjoy the creative process that comes from my client’s requests, whilst I’m hugely fortunate to be able to tattoo a lot of my own designs I make custom tattoos for people too. Having their input definitely takes me to different corners of exploring reference.
4. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO YOUR CURRENT STYLE?
I’m not even sure how I would describe my current style, I think these things are a constant evolution, at least for me. I’m just trying to make strong, lasting tattoos. Always learning.
5. DO YOU THINK THERE ARE CHALLENGES IN BEING A TATTOO ARTIST
I think there are a lot of challenges to being a tattooer, obviously those are outweighed by the rewards for me though. I also think it’s how you frame it, where something could be viewed as a challenge in tattooing, usually centred around structure and security the flip side is the freedom. It’s not for everyone. I certainly think being a woman comes with its own very specific set of challenges. Whilst I see some positive changes there’s a lot that I think could do with improving but just existing in those spaces and remaining consistent is how I try to play my positive part in it.
6. FAVOURITE THING ABOUT BEING A TATTOO ARTIST?
Practically everything. Tattooing saved me. The experiences of this last year and the current lockdown have done nothing but highlight to me how grateful I am to do something I truly love. Having that taken away has been incredibly difficult, I can’t wait to get back to it. Tattooing has afforded me the freedom and opportunity to travel the world, make amazing friends, find my husband and ultimately relocate to America. Once the current crisis calms I’ll be there raising my family, I owe all of that in some form tattooing.
