HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TATTOOING?

I’ve been involved in the profession since 1992, tattooing since 1997, so 27 years!

DID YOU GO TO ART COLLEGE?
Yes I did, although it was good to be in a creative environment, it didn’t really suit the kind of art that I liked. So I didn’t really want to pursue a fine art career, and tattooing chose me. At that time, it was still a very underground and marginal profession. Pre-internet, all you had were books and magazines, so this aspect was very appealing to me. We were PIRATES!

HAVE YOU TATTOOED YOURSELF?

Yes I have, in the early days. I tattooed the inside of my calves, to varying degrees of success! One I’ve had covered now, but the other, a punk band logo, I’m still fond of. And I still listen to the band. It wasn’t too painful as I recall, and it was easier than I imagined because I was in control of the pain, I could stop any time. Much easier than tattooing another person!

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST TATTOO YOU’VE EVER DONE?

I struggle to answer this question, ‘weird’ is very subjective. To me, a lot of ‘weird’ is normal, and ‘normal’ is weird. I think it’s weird when people get the same thing that someone else has got, or copies something that someone famous has tattooed. The weirder the better for me personally! Bring me your weird ideas!

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST PLACE ON SOMEONE YOU’VE TATTOOED?

This question always makes me smile, because it’s a thinly veiled way of asking if I tattoo genitals. Bodies are bodies to me, all shapes and sizes! Tattooing those areas is difficult as you’re dealing with highly sensitive areas, and genitals aren’t like other skin. Personally, in 27 years, I’ve only been asked a couple of times if I’d do it, and it’s only actually happened once.

ARE THERE ANY TATTOOS YOU WON’T DO?

Yes. I’m a very ethical person, and while it’s not up to me to tell someone what they can’t do, there are some things I’d feel uncomfortable doing. Racist/sexist/homophobic tattoos of course, but also facial tattoos if the client has no tattoos, I’m not ok with being the cause of future difficulties that person will undoubtedly encounter. If someone’s giving me a hard time before the tattoo has started, I’ll sit down and try to talk to them about it, but if after that, I’m still uncomfortable with the client, I’ll rebook, and if I have to, refund the deposit and refuse. It almost never happens though, and 99% of tattoos I’m happy to do.

DO YOU STILL ENJOY IT?

Totally! It’s almost never easy, and requires a lot of work and concentration, but it’s still a super amazing career to have. I’ve met so many amazing people over the years, and been to places that blew my mind, made lifelong friends, and got to draw for a living! I couldn’t have asked for more. Tattooing has changed my life in so many ways, I’m indebted to it, and most of all to my loyal clients who have enabled me to do this for so long. THANK YOU!!