The Mammoth Book of Tattoo PDF
The Mammoth Book of Tattoo PDF
The Mammoth Book of Tattoo PDF
Mammoth Book of
TATTOOS
Also available
London W6 9ER
www.constablerobinson.com
UK ISBN 978-1-84529-740-4
US ISBN 9780762436316
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
10
cultures since man first learnt that he could mark his body by
puncturing
the skin and introducing a pigment into it. The second is by
using some
kind of electric machine. Many people ask which method hurts
the most;
I would say, having experienced both methods, that they all hurt to
some
degree!
Part of the tattoo renaissance has been a resurgence of
traditional
hand tattooing in many places, such as New Zealand, Japan,
Hawaii,
Borneo, Thailand, Tahiti, and Samoa, to name just a few.
Artists are
creating traditional tattoos using traditional methods and
various hand
tools particular to their area, drawing on traditional imagery such
as the
beautiful moko, in the case of the Maoris of New Zealand, or the
P’ea of
Samoa. In many places where the Church and the State sought in
to eradicate tattooing, it is now being recognized as an important
the past
part of
the islanders’ cultural heritage.
In traditional tattoo machines an electric motor drives the
needles
back and forth, but new technology has led to the development
of air-
powered machines. The first electric machine, patented in New
York in
1891 by the American Samuel O’Reilly, made tattooing both
faster and
more precise. Today, most artists all over the world use a machine
of some
kind to create tattoos.
As technology advances, so, too, do many of the tools
and materials
of the tattoo trade. There is better sterilization today; an immense
variety
of brighter – and safer – colours; and better quality machines.
But the
quality of the art still depends on the skill of the practitioner.
Some artists specialize in just one of the myriad styles
which exist
while others are “jacks of all trades”. Contemporary tattooists
are required
to turn their hand to just about any idea a client requests and turn
it into
NTRODUCTION
Treharne
John
cultures since man first learnt that he could mark his body by
puncturing
the skin and introducing a pigment into it. The second is by
using some
kind of electric machine. Many people ask which method hurts
the most;
I would say, having experienced both methods, that they all hurt to
some
degree!
Part of the tattoo renaissance has been a resurgence of
traditional
hand tattooing in many places, such as New Zealand, Japan,
Hawaii,
Borneo, Thailand, Tahiti, and Samoa, to name just a few.
Artists are
creating traditional tattoos using traditional methods and
various hand
tools particular to their area, drawing on traditional imagery such
as the
beautiful moko, in the case of the Maoris of New Zealand, or the
P’ea of
Samoa. In many places where the Church and the State sought in
to eradicate tattooing, it is now being recognized as an important
the past
part of
the islanders’ cultural heritage.
In traditional tattoo machines an electric motor drives the
needles
back and forth, but new technology has led to the development
of air-
powered machines. The first electric machine, patented in New
York in
1891 by the American Samuel O’Reilly, made tattooing both
faster and
more precise. Today, most artists all over the world use a machine
of some
kind to create tattoos.
As technology advances, so, too, do many of the tools
and materials
of the tattoo trade. There is better sterilization today; an immense
variety
of brighter – and safer – colours; and better quality machines.
But the
quality of the art still depends on the skill of the practitioner.
Some artists specialize in just one of the myriad styles
which exist
while others are “jacks of all trades”. Contemporary tattooists
are required
to turn their hand to just about any idea a client requests and turn
it into
INTRODUCTION
11
Yan Spencer
Lal Hardy
INTRODUCTION
Lal Hardy
12
1992. He now works at New Wave
ADAM DA PUNK
Adam da Punk’s tattoo adventure started in the dark depths of
Deptford in south-east London in
DAM DA PUNK
Adam da Punk’s tattoo adventure started in the dark depths of
Deptford in south-east London in
PUNK
A DA M
DA
PUNK
A DA M 15
DA
PUNK
16 A DA M DA
PUNK
A DA M
DA
PUNK
A DA M 17
DA
PUNK
19
HANNAH AITCHISON
Chicago native Hannah Aitchison loves to make pretty pictures on
people, and hopes they like wearing them. Currently splitting her
time between the two weather systems of Chicago and Los Angeles,
she has spent the last 12 years developing a distinctive artistic style
that showcases elements of classical illustration, mid-
She also enjoys long moonlit walks on the beach, pina coladas,
and lawn darts.
Since 1991 he has been taking part in the bigger European tattoo
conventions. He enjoys different styles of tattooing and believes
that involving the customer in a detailed discussion of the work is
a vitally important part of the tattooing process.
32 S E R G E Y “ G EORGE”
B A R DA D I M
34 S E R G E Y “ G E O R G E ”
B A R DA D I M
36
37
NEIL BASS
Neil Bass was something of a latecomer in the world of tattooing,
getting his first tattoo at the age of 27. But just three years later, in
1998, he set out on the long road to become a tattooer.
BEZ
Bez started tattooing around three
years ago, while looking for a new
challenge, having worked as an art
director in the computer games
industry for about 15 years. After
trying a few different art-related jobs,
he says he “sort of just fell into
tattooing”, and he hasn’t looked back
since. In his view it’s the best job in
the world. It’s a lot of hard work, but
every day brings a different project
to get his head around. He likes most
forms of tattooing, but especially
realism and high-colour work, though
with a bit of black and grey from time
to time, too. He also does a lot of
Japanese work, under the alias of
Mr Woo. Increasingly, he enjoys the
contrast with his usual work. Over
the next few years he he plans to
push the realism side of tattooing a
stage further with some “mad and
crazy plans”.
BIG GUS
Big Gus was raised in LA County, California, where he grew up in
the streets, drawing and writing on everything he saw until he
realized “he could make money off of this”. He was airbrushing at
13, tattooing at 14, and working as a professional tattooist by the
time he was 22, at Distinctive Ink Tattoo, in Pico Rivera. He
learned from watching others, by painting murals in the LA
riverbed, on street corners, and down alleys. His mother also
helped, by not yelling at him when he wrote on the walls. His
favourite style of tattooing is fine-line and black/grey
photorealism. He has won well over 100
Luke Bond: “I have been tattooing in our studio for the past nine
years. Due to walk-in trade we’ve had to learn to adapt to any
style on any given day.”
76 T H E B OND F A M I LY
79
GEORGE BONE
Celebrated at one time in the Guinness Book of Records for being
Britain’s most tattooed man, George Bone has been tattooing in
his famous studio for the past 36 years. He does most styles of
tattooing, but prefers to do custom work, Japanese being the most
popular style of tattooing in his studio.
GEORGE
BONE
GEORGE 83
BONE
PAUL BOOTH
Paul Booth has been a tattoo artist for nearly two decades and a
painter before that. Following years of public appearances and
having won numerous international awards, he is now a household
name with a two-year waiting list. In 2000, together with the
world-
DAVE BRYANT
Dave Bryant began tattooing in his native England in early 1999.
JASON BUTCHER
Jason Butcher grew up in Chelmsford, in the south-east of
England, knowing that he wanted to be an artist from a very early
age. Although he had no formal art training or tattoo
apprenticeship, he started tattooing in 1994, working hard to
learn everything he needed to know. He opened his own studio,
Immortal Ink, in 1999, and he’s been there ever since. His art has
always been influenced by his love of horror films, but he likes to
tattoo anything photo-realistic or horror-related, and specializes
in tattooing in black and grey.
98 J A S O N B UTCHER
JASON
BUTCHER
JASON 99
BUTCHER
100
103
MATT B UTLER
Matt Butler was born in England, but moved to Los Angeles at the
age of nine. When he was 12 he fell in love with graffiti, continuing
to live the graffiti lifestyle until 1998, when he moved back to
London to start tattooing professionally. After a temporary return
to LA, he opened and ran Life Family Tattoo in Sevenoaks, Kent,
and has since opened a new shop, Glory Bound Tattoos, in
Exmouth, Devon, where he continues to work and is enjoying
living with his new wife. He says, “Along the way I have met and
worked with many great artists who have taught and inspired me
greatly – too many to mention, but my thanks are endless.”
104 M AT T BUTLER
106 M AT T BUTLER
1998. He has built a strong
reputation on his instantly
STEVE BYRNE
Steve Byrne was born in Durham, England, in 1978, and has been
tattooing professionally since
JOE C APOBIANCO
Joe Capobianco got his start on Long Island, New York, where,
with the help of fellow artists and a desire to learn as much of the
tattooing business as quickly as possible, he flourished. After six
years he left New York to further his tattoo education with Cory
Kruger in north-eastern Massachusetts. Together, they started
Color Box, a small private studio on the border between New
Hampshire and Massachusetts, but after two years they went their
separate ways. Joe moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where he
founded Hope Gallery alongside Julio Rodriguez and Eric Merrill –
together, they truly left their mark on the north-east.
Joe has also published a number of bestselling sketch books. He
currently lives in New Haven, Connecticut, with his lovely wife
Alethea and their cute little French bulldog, Molly, but “keep your
eye on the sky because who knows where he’ll end up next”.
116 JOE CAPOBIANCO
JOE CAPOBIANCO
JOE CAPOBIANCO 117
JOE CAPOBIANCO
JOE CAPOBIANCO 119
121
CLAUDIA
Claudia De Rossi, a.k.a. Sabe,
was born in Italy in 1980. She
started tattooing from home,
in 2004, with the help of some
tattooist friends, but her career
really took off when she had her
sleeves tattooed by Ian Flower at
Into You, in London. She showed
Ian her sketch-book and he offered
her a job at his studio in Surrey.
Before taking up the job, she
worked for six months at Andy
Tattoos in Rovigo, Italy. Since
then she has worked at Frith Street
Tattoo, in London, and New Skool
Tattoo, in Surrey. Her favourite
styles are traditional Japanese,
Old School, and graffiti-related,
but she also enjoys “whatever
comes through the door”. She is
inspired by a number of different
sources such as jewellery, fashion,
old pictures, architecture, and
sculpture. For Claudia tattooing is
all about shapes and flow; she is a
graffiti writer and loves her Italian
heritage.
130 CLAUDIA
CLAUDIA 131
133
WIDO M ARVAL
DE
Wido de Marval started tattooing in 1999 in a studio in Lausanne,
Switzerland, his home town. Two years later, he was invited to
work with the prestigious Leu Family’s Family Iron, where he
“enjoyed working for six years with one of the most generous and
talented artists [he has] ever met.” For many years he has been
collecting Japanese antiques with his father, who is a renowned
collector, and he now specializes in traditional Japanese tattooing.
He also travels twice a year to Japan with his friend Alex Reinke to
visit his main influence and idol, Horiyoshi III. Wido tries through
his work to pay respect to the great masters who did so much for
tattooing before he was born.
140 WIDO DE M A R VA L
142 WIDO DE M A R VA L
11, he began practising on school
ROB DOUBTFIRE
Rob Doubtfire was born in Sarawak, Borneo, where his father was
stationed with the British Army. In 1968 he returned to England
where he grew up in Skipton, Yorkshire. His interest in tattoos was
sparked by his father’s tattooed arms and, at the age of
mates with a bottle of Indian ink and a pin. Being a “colourful” lad he
ended up in various institutions where his tattooing really took off
and he realized it was going to be his life’s work and passion.
Twenty-five years later Rob is going stronger than ever and his
character remains as loud and colourful as his artwork.
11, he began practising on school
ROB DOUBTFIRE
Rob Doubtfire was born in Sarawak, Borneo, where his father was
stationed with the British Army. In 1968 he returned to England
where he grew up in Skipton, Yorkshire. His interest in tattoos was
sparked by his father’s tattooed arms and, at the age of
mates with a bottle of Indian ink and a pin. Being a “colourful” lad he
ended up in various institutions where his tattooing really took off
and he realized it was going to be his life’s work and passion.
Twenty-five years later Rob is going stronger than ever and his
character remains as loud and colourful as his artwork.
146
148 ROB DOUBTFIRE
151
KIAN FORREAL
Kian Forreal began studying, researching, drawing, and getting tattooed in 1986 and has been
tattooing professionally since 1993. Originally from Canada, he has lived in Europe for many yea
Naturally drawn to travel, he has worked with and learned from some of the best tattoo artists
living today. Sometimes it was small things he learned – such as how to make a better needle, o
shade a dragon in a particular way to suggest more volume – but sometimes it was a life-changi
drawing technique which altered his whole approach to his art. He is forever indebted to them f
their guidance and kindness. Kian’s own personal philosophy towards tattooing has evolved over
last few years; what began as a desire simply to tattoo people with any design they chose has be
transformed into a drive to tattoo art with aesthetic appeal, power, meaning, and depth.
FORREAL
Kian Forreal began studying, researching, drawing, and getting tattooed in 1986 and has been
tattooing professionally since 1993. Originally from Canada, he has lived in Europe for many years.
Naturally drawn to travel, he has worked with and learned from some of the best tattoo artists
living today. Sometimes it was small things he learned – such as how to make a better needle, or
shade a dragon in a particular way to suggest more volume – but sometimes it was a life-changing
drawing technique which altered his whole approach to his art. He is forever indebted to them for
their guidance and kindness. Kian’s own personal philosophy towards tattooing has evolved over the
last few years; what began as a desire simply to tattoo people with any design they chose has been
transformed into a drive to tattoo art with aesthetic appeal, power, meaning, and depth.
KI AN F
KI AN F ORREAL 153
KI AN F
KI AN F ORREAL 155
157
DAVE FORREAL
Before becoming a tattooist, Dave Fox did a lot of other stuff. He rode BMX freestyle as a kid,
touring the United States with the Schwinn Freestyle Team when he was 15 in the summer of 1988.
He also published a BMX/skateboarding ’zine in the 80s called Stylin’ Zine. Back in those pre-Interne
days, Dave had to save his pennies and photocopy the things he had to say, put stamps on the
envelopes, and then mail them out – “Craziness!” as he puts it. After that he started playing guitar
with various metal, hardcore, and punk bands. Finally, he began tattooing, drawing and painting for
years until he felt like he’d learned something, all the while tattooing and tattooing. Now, he plays in
a metal band, the Dark Lords of Stonehurst, but “the band’s old so it’s not really going anywhere”.
He is still tattooing, though, in Philadelphia, at Studio One Tattoo, supporting his wife and cats.
AVE FORREAL
Before becoming a tattooist, Dave Fox did a lot of other stuff. He rode BMX freestyle as a kid,
touring the United States with the Schwinn Freestyle Team when he was 15 in the summer of 1988.
He also published a BMX/skateboarding ’zine in the 80s called Stylin’ Zine. Back in those pre-Internet
days, Dave had to save his pennies and photocopy the things he had to say, put stamps on the
envelopes, and then mail them out – “Craziness!” as he puts it. After that he started playing guitar
with various metal, hardcore, and punk bands. Finally, he began tattooing, drawing and painting for
years until he felt like he’d learned something, all the while tattooing and tattooing. Now, he plays in
a metal band, the Dark Lords of Stonehurst, but “the band’s old so it’s not really going anywhere”.
He is still tattooing, though, in Philadelphia, at Studio One Tattoo, supporting his wife and cats.
160 D A V E F OX
CHRIS GARVER
“I would like to thank everyone that I have tattooed for letting me make
a living doing what I love.”
163
GARVER
“I would like to thank everyone that I have tattooed for letting me make
a living doing what I love.”
164 CHRI S G ARVER
166 CHRI S G ARVER
169
RHYS GORDON
Rhys Gordon began tattooing in Melbourne, Australia, in
1990.
He spent the better part of eight years travelling and
working in many leading studios in London, elsewhere in
Europe, and Asia before settling in Innervision Tattoo in
Sydney, Australia. His preferred styles are traditional,
Japanese, and script lettering, but, being schooled in the
“street shop”
WAYNE GRACE
Wayne Grace was born on 26 April 1972 in London. From an early age he was always interested in
watching his father paint, and he has never wanted to do anything other than draw for his living.
His first real passion in art was graffiti, starting in the early 80s, an influence which has continued to
Wayne started tattooing in 1998 at Primitive Origins in Hammersmith, west London. He worked the
years before moving to north London to work at New Wave Tattoo.
GRACE
Wayne Grace was born on 26 April 1972 in London. From an early age he was always interested in art,
watching his father paint, and he has never wanted to do anything other than draw for his living.
His first real passion in art was graffiti, starting in the early 80s, an influence which has continued to this day.
Wayne started tattooing in 1998 at Primitive Origins in Hammersmith, west London. He worked there for eight
years before moving to north London to work at New Wave Tattoo.
178
181
ALLAN GRAVES
Allen Graves always wanted to have tattoos, but didn’t think about becoming a tattooist. When he w
wanted badly to become a comic book illustrator, but after attending a few different arts schools he r
career of comics was “kinda slow”. Then, after getting his first tattoo, he discovered that there was a
He has been tattooing for eight years now and is really looking forward to doing it for a long time y
inspirations are horror and American culture.
While Haunted is closed, he can be found at Jolie Rouge on Caledonian Road in London.
RAVES
Graves always wanted to have tattoos, but didn’t think about becoming a tattooist. When he was a kid he
d badly to become a comic book illustrator, but after attending a few different arts schools he realized that the
of comics was “kinda slow”. Then, after getting his first tattoo, he discovered that there was a lot of art in it.
as been tattooing for eight years now and is really looking forward to doing it for a long time yet. His main
ations are horror and American culture.
ROSE HARDY
Rose Hardy started tattooing in 2000 in Auckland, New Zealand.
After working with Adam Craft, Dean Sacred, and Dan Anderson, and seeing work by people like Ch
and Sabado, she started to focus on more illustrative, custom designs. She paid more attention to doin
single-weight line work with less colour and more black, developing her immediately recognizable sty
She says, “Tattooing has allowed me to travel the world and work in amazing studios and make grea
who I have learnt a lot from. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
ARDY
After working with Adam Craft, Dean Sacred, and Dan Anderson, and seeing work by people like Chris Conn
and Sabado, she started to focus on more illustrative, custom designs. She paid more attention to doing clean,
single-weight line work with less colour and more black, developing her immediately recognizable style.
She says, “Tattooing has allowed me to travel the world and work in amazing studios and make great friends
who I have learnt a lot from. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
ROSE
ROS E H A R DY 189
190 ROS E H A R DY
193
1999, with her business partner,
JO HARRISON
Born in 1976, Jo Harrison was raised on the outskirts of Birmingham, England. She fell in love with tat
she first noticed them on all the punks in the late 70s and early 90s. While studying for a degree in texti
worked at Kev Shercliff’s Midland Tattoo Centre, in Staffordshire, where, although not apprenticed, sh
about tattooing. At that time she started to get tattooed by Fiona Long, a strong influence and a great h
beginning of Jo’s career. In
she opened her own shop, but, realizing that she always felt most inspired at conventions, she set off on
Sting” world tour, working 22 conventions and doing 20 guest spots in one year. She plans to continue
but also to find more time to paint, surf, and scuba dive – to enjoy life as well as do the job she loves.
h her business partner,
ARRISON
orn in 1976, Jo Harrison was raised on the outskirts of Birmingham, England. She fell in love with tattoos when
e first noticed them on all the punks in the late 70s and early 90s. While studying for a degree in textiles, she
orked at Kev Shercliff’s Midland Tattoo Centre, in Staffordshire, where, although not apprenticed, she learned
out tattooing. At that time she started to get tattooed by Fiona Long, a strong influence and a great help at the
ginning of Jo’s career. In
e opened her own shop, but, realizing that she always felt most inspired at conventions, she set off on a “Sweet
ng” world tour, working 22 conventions and doing 20 guest spots in one year. She plans to continue travelling,
t also to find more time to paint, surf, and scuba dive – to enjoy life as well as do the job she loves.
199
From a background of having been a formal gardener and an art student he begged and pestered a lo
into letting him do all the usual apprenticeship jobs. He owes his beginnings and love of the timeless
tattooing to David Notley.
Ely feels she’s lucky to be a tattooist, allowed to live a life lacking in responsibility, travel about and
she loves. As she puts it, “I meet cool people, have a chat and do a bit of drawing on their skin all d
What more could a girl ask for? Oh, and I can take my dogs to work so that’s cool, too.”
ARRY AND ELY
It was obvious to Harry from the embryonic stages of trying to understand the tattooing process and all that
goes with it that he was leading himself down a path that would bring him a great deal of frustration and
heartache, but that would also ultimately prove to be one of the most challenging and rewarding decisions he
would ever make.
From a background of having been a formal gardener and an art student he begged and pestered a local studio
into letting him do all the usual apprenticeship jobs. He owes his beginnings and love of the timeless art of
tattooing to David Notley.
Ely feels she’s lucky to be a tattooist, allowed to live a life lacking in responsibility, travel about and do a job
she loves. As she puts it, “I meet cool people, have a chat and do a bit of drawing on their skin all day long.
What more could a girl ask for? Oh, and I can take my dogs to work so that’s cool, too.”
Ely
Harry
Ely
H A R RY AND
Ely
H A R RY A N D E L Y 203
Harry
Ely
HERCOLY
Hercoly lives in São Paulo, Brazil,
where he runs a private studio. There
he creates many large, one-off tattoos.
He also travels each year to Europe
where he works in the studios of various
friends, doing smaller pieces on walk-in
customers. He likes to spend time at the
beach and partying. He also has a great
love of nature and enjoys studying flora
and fauna, particularly birds. He loves
dogs and owns a whippet.
Hercoly lives in São Paulo, Brazil,
where he runs a private studio. There
he creates many large, one-off tattoos.
He also travels each year to Europe
where he works in the studios of various
friends, doing smaller pieces on walk-in
customers. He likes to spend time at the
beach and partying. He also has a great
love of nature and enjoys studying flora
and fauna, particularly birds. He loves
dogs and owns a whippet.
206 H E RC O LY
208
210
211
CHRIS HIGGINS
Chris Higgins was born in 1971 and got his first tattoo at the age of 21.
At the age of 23 he had his arms tattooed by Curly at Into You, an experience which inspired him to
himself and his friends by hand.
In 2000, he left his job at Barclays Bank to pursue a full-time career in tattooing. Since then he has w
variety of studios from Burgess Hill to Barcelona, and from London to Brighton. He is currently work
Tattoo-fx, in Burgess Hill, and Into You, also in London, continuing to improve his understanding an
of traditional styles of tattooing. He specializes in traditional tribal tattooing.
IGGINS
Chris Higgins was born in 1971 and got his first tattoo at the age of 21.
At the age of 23 he had his arms tattooed by Curly at Into You, an experience which inspired him to tattoo
himself and his friends by hand.
In 2000, he left his job at Barclays Bank to pursue a full-time career in tattooing. Since then he has worked in a
variety of studios from Burgess Hill to Barcelona, and from London to Brighton. He is currently working at
Tattoo-fx, in Burgess Hill, and Into You, also in London, continuing to improve his understanding and practice
of traditional styles of tattooing. He specializes in traditional tribal tattooing.
CHRI S H
CHRI S H IGGINS 213
214 CHRI S H IGGINS
216
217
THOMAS HOOPER
Born in Hastings, in East Sussex, England, Thomas Hooper now lives in New York City where he wo
York Adorned. He has worked for Jim Macairt, Alex Binnie, and Dante Dimassa. He’s extremely gra
have such good friends from all over the world in his life, and to have been given the opportunity to
loyal customers.
HOOPER
Born in Hastings, in East Sussex, England, Thomas Hooper now lives in New York City where he works at New
York Adorned. He has worked for Jim Macairt, Alex Binnie, and Dante Dimassa. He’s extremely grateful to
have such good friends from all over the world in his life, and to have been given the opportunity to tattoo such
loyal customers.
220 THOM A S H O O P E R
H O M A S H O O P E R
THOMAS
HOOPER
THOM AS 221
HOOPER
SAIRA HUNJAN
Saira Hunjan was born in Balham, south London. Growing up, her natural
talent and passion for drawing and her hunger for creativity led to a school
work placement at The House of Living Art, in Earlsfield, London. Little di
she know that this was where her tattooing career would begin. In 1998, sh
served an apprenticeship at New Skool Tattoo, in Surrey. At the age of 23,
having graduated in Fine Art and with five years of hands-on tattoo trainin
she landed a job at Soho’s Frith Street Tattoo Studio (formerly Angelic Hell
Since 2004 Saira has worked at the Family Business, in Exmouth Market,
London. Her work reveals her love of Indian and Mexican art, but she also
creates old American Sailor tattoos and beautiful gypsy goddesses. In 2008,
Saira launched her own Gypsy Devi label, branching out into items such as
scarves, murals, and even coffins.
HUNJAN
Saira Hunjan was born in Balham, south London. Growing up, her natural
talent and passion for drawing and her hunger for creativity led to a school
work placement at The House of Living Art, in Earlsfield, London. Little did
she know that this was where her tattooing career would begin. In 1998, she
served an apprenticeship at New Skool Tattoo, in Surrey. At the age of 23,
having graduated in Fine Art and with five years of hands-on tattoo training,
she landed a job at Soho’s Frith Street Tattoo Studio (formerly Angelic Hell).
Since 2004 Saira has worked at the Family Business, in Exmouth Market,
London. Her work reveals her love of Indian and Mexican art, but she also
creates old American Sailor tattoos and beautiful gypsy goddesses. In 2008,
Saira launched her own Gypsy Devi label, branching out into items such as silk
scarves, murals, and even coffins.
224 SAI RA H UNJAN
226 SAI RA H UNJAN
228
HENNING JORGENSEN
Henning Jorgensen started tattooing in
1979, in the red light district of
Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 1982 he moved to Nyhavn to work
with the late Tattoo Ole and a year later
he opened Royal Tattoo in Helsingør,
which has just celebrated its 25th
anniversary.
In 2004, together with Mike Rubendall, he
started Tattoo Elite International, selling
Flash artwork from top artists around the
world.
230 HENNI NG J O R G E N S E N
232 H E N N I N G J ORGENSEN
235
TIM KE R N
In his own words: “Tim Kern is a
rotten, carny bastard. A seventh-
generation twin, he was born in a
state of Misery, half-cooked and with
a lazy eye. Over the years he has
developed a passion for human
oddities, prestidigitation, and serial
killers. Tim has been a tattoo artist
for 13 years, and works at
Tribulation Tattoo in NYC. If seen,
do not approach, and shoot on
sight.”
236 TI M K E R N
T
TI M K ERN 237
241
CHAD KOEPLINGER
Chad Koeplinger was born on 3 August
1976 and began tattooing on 16 August
1997, in Saginaw, Michigan, USA. He has
made tattoos in cities all over the world,
including “Los Angeles, Youngstown,
Pittsburgh, Montgomery, Jasper,
Cleveland, New Orleans, Sacramento, San
Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Olympia,
Lincoln, Washington D.C., Wheaton,
Baltimore, Salt Lake City, Orlando,
Miami, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia,
Savannah, Atlanta, Jersey City,
Manchester, Lansing, Reno, Barcelona,
Madrid, Gijón, London, Stockholm,
Lidköping, Malmö, Helsinki, Trieste,
Rome, Milan, Berlin, Dorsten, Stirling,
Amsterdam, Athens, Buenos Aires,
Melbourne, Sydney, Cairo, St Petersburg,
and some others I forgot”.
242 C H A D K OEPLINGER
C H A D K OEPLINGER
C H A D K OEPLINGER 243
244
C H A D K OEPLINGER
C H A D K OEPLINGER 245
247
PHIL KYLE
Phil Kyle started off as an apprentice in the 1990s in Baltimore, Maryland,
on the east coast of the United States. After working there for several years,
he travelled around the States, working in various places, before ending up a
Permanent Productions in Cincinnati, Ohio. Subsequently he moved to
France where he worked in a couple of studios, as well as doing guest spots
and attending conventions throughout Europe. He was approached by
Discovery for the London Ink show, which he describes as a great experienc
and a tremendous opportunity. London Ink enabled him to open a studio in
Brighton, England, which had been in the pipeline for many years and is now
his main place of work. As well as tattooing, he also paints, plays music, and
enjoys spending time with his daughter, Willow.
HIL KYLE
Phil Kyle started off as an apprentice in the 1990s in Baltimore, Maryland,
on the east coast of the United States. After working there for several years,
he travelled around the States, working in various places, before ending up at
Permanent Productions in Cincinnati, Ohio. Subsequently he moved to
France where he worked in a couple of studios, as well as doing guest spots
and attending conventions throughout Europe. He was approached by
Discovery for the London Ink show, which he describes as a great experience
and a tremendous opportunity. London Ink enabled him to open a studio in
Brighton, England, which had been in the pipeline for many years and is now
his main place of work. As well as tattooing, he also paints, plays music, and
enjoys spending time with his daughter, Willow.
248 PHI L K Y L E
250 PHI L K Y L E
253
LOW
Allan Low owns and runs Northside Tattooz in the north-east of England.
“As a young punk in the 70s I got into tattooing and persevered in life to
get to where I am now. I am self-taught and a real self-made bloke.
Northside is a street shop, working in any style and doing custom work to
the customers’ requirements. Like all true relationships I have a love/hate
relationship with tattooing – it is in me blood, it’s my life 24/7.”
Allan Low owns and runs Northside Tattooz in the north-east of England.
“As a young punk in the 70s I got into tattooing and persevered in life to
get to where I am now. I am self-taught and a real self-made bloke.
Northside is a street shop, working in any style and doing custom work to
the customers’ requirements. Like all true relationships I have a love/hate
relationship with tattooing – it is in me blood, it’s my life 24/7.”
260 LOW
262
LOW 263
265
NIKOLE LOWE
“I never thought I’d be where I am today
when I was growing up.
I never knew where I’d be, but I was open-
minded to anything that came my way. I
found myself drawing a lot which led to
tattooing. I focused on things I was good
at until one day everything seemed to fall
into place. Tattooing found me in 1991,
I’m still doing it, always learning, and
loving it.”
266 NI KOLE L OWE
268
NI KOLE
NI KOLE L OW E 269
COREY MILLER
“The circus hasn’t changed,
but the tent is really fuckin’ big
right now . . .”
271
MILLER
“The circus hasn’t changed,
but the tent is really fuckin’ big
right now . . .”
272 C O R E Y M ILLER
274 C O R E Y M ILLER
COREY
M ILLER
COREY 275
M ILLER
277
MIREK
LOUIS MOLLOY
Louis Molloy opened the Middleton
Tattoo Studio in 1981
at the age of 18. He’s still in the same
studio and expects to remain there until
the day he dies. Rather than choosing to
become a tattoo artist, he feels it chose
him and has become “hardwired at [his]
very core” where he carries it “like a life
sentence”. He describes himself as being
“always at its disposal”.
LEIGH OLDCORN
Leigh Oldcorn’s studio, Cosmic Tattoo,
is in Colchester, Essex, England. He
was born in 1969
and raised in a children’s home.
He left in 1985 and hung around at
Scorpio Tattoo Studio in
Middlesbrough, Cleveland, collecting
tattoos, and acting as front desk and
general dogsbody.
This was the start of his tattooing
career. He is primarily self-taught,
having gained experience at various
studios on the south coast of England
until opening his own studio in 1998.
He says, “I love this profession dearly,
particularly black and grey work and
portraits, but I’ll do pretty much
anything! My main influences are Bob
Tyrell, Tom Ptolemy, Louis Molloy,
and Paul Booth.”
MEGAN
OLIVER
Megan Oliver has been tattooing professionally since 1996.
Originally from Aotearoa, New Zealand, in the early 1990s she
travelled to London to begin her tattoo journey with Mark Lee of
Realistic Dermagraphics on the Portobello Road. Returning to the
Antipodes she spent two years tattooing under the guidance of eX
de Medici at Deus Ex Machina in Canberra, Australia. Since 2001
she has been working at Cliffe Clayton’s Inner Vision Tattoo in
Sydney, Australia. Her favourite style of tattooing is anything
graphic, unique, meaningful, and personal.
302 M E G A N O LIVER
M EGAN
O LIVER
M EGAN 303
O LIVER
304 M E G A N O LIVER
306
307
LUCA ORTIS
Luca Ortis was born in
Luxembourg so he soon decided
to try his luck elsewhere. While
travelling through Chile he was
given a tattoo machine by a
mysterious stranger who told him
it would be a great way to live.
After scratching his way around
for a while he realized someone
would eventually break his hands
if he carried on carving havoc
on unsuspecting skins. He then
set about lying and cajoling so
as to get his foot in the door of a
proper tattoo shop and was lucky
enough to come across kind souls
who took pity on his potential
customers and decided to teach
him what they knew.
314 L U C A O RTIS
L UCA
O RTIS
L UCA 315
O RTIS
316 L U C A O RTIS
319
PIOTREK
Piotrek was born and raised in
Poland, in a small mountain
village named Rabaka. He
studied chemistry at school
before moving on to do medical
research. After travelling to the
United Kingdom in 2000 he
found himself pursuing a career
as a tattoo artist in London. He is
open to all styles of tattooing.
P IOTREK 321
322
P IOTREK 323
325
RODNEY RAINES
While studying visual arts at Lander University in South Carolina,
Rodney Raines spent a semester in 1992 studying at Polytechnic
South West (now the University of Plymouth), in England. It was
then that he received his first tattoo, from Tattoo Paul. He
graduated in 1995
and, with the help of Shay Cannon and Phil Colvin, he began to
tattoo professionally in 1997, at Point Blank in Hendersonville,
North Carolina. Later that year he moved to work with Randy
Herring at Skin Art in Gastonia, NC. After two years of “street
shop” tattooing, he moved to Ace Custom Tattoo in Charlotte,
NC, to work for Nick Hughes, where, with Colin LaRocque, he
focused on tattoo conventions. Finally, in 2003, he bought Ace
Custom Tattoo. Now, when not tattooing or painting, he travels
all over the world, tattooing at conventions and doing guest spots.
He also owns, together with Lise Barnet, Twenty-Two, an art
gallery in Charlotte.
326 R O D N E Y R AINES
328
R ODNEY
R AINES
R ODNEY 329
R AINES
331
JEFF
RASSIER
“I started tattooing in Santa Barbara, but soon moved to San
Francisco.
At the time the energy in the city was incredible, especially for a
young tattooer – man, it was the best! In that seven-mile little
city you had Ed Hardy, Eddy Deutsche, Freddy Corbin, Dan
Higgs, Marcus Pacheco, Aaron Cain, Henry Goldfield, Bill
Salmon, Timothy Hoyer, Elio, E.F.
Whithead, Scott Sylvia, Tim Lehi, Grime . . . all within the first
few years I lived there, plus a plethora of guest artists coming
through all the time.
You couldn’t help being motivated in San Francisco – everybody in
SF
had great tattoos back then. Now when I see a shitty tattoo on
someone walking down the street I want to hit them with a
hammer and ask them, ‘What the fuck! How do you get a bad
tattoo here?’ It’s hard to do, but they probably wouldn’t answer
because I hit them with a hammer rendering them unconscious –
oh well, serves them right. I am really lucky to be in a shop where
it feels like it did when I first moved here, all the time. I love
tattooing, always will, no matter how much Hollywood tries to
suck the specialness out of it. Tattooing will always be first on my
mind and body.”
332 J E F F R ASSIER
334
J EFF
R ASSIER
J EFF 335
R ASSIER
336
STEFF
REIDER
Steff Reider describes his first experience of seeing someone getting
a tattoo as being like magic. Although he was only 13
R EIDER
S TEFF 339
R EIDER
340 S T E F F R EIDER
S TEFF
R EIDER
S TEFF 341
R EIDER
342
34 years old, in Japanese terms he
ALEX REINKE
Alex Reinke, a.k.a. Horikitsune, of Horiyoshi III’s Holy Fox
Tattoos, started tattooing 13 years ago. He is a student of
Horiyoshi III from Yokohama, Japan. Although he is
God bless.”
344 A L E X R EINKE
346
A LEX
R EINKE
A LEX 347
R EINKE
KAHLIL RINTYE
“Kahlil Rintye works in San Francisco at Ed Hardy’s Tattoo
City. He’s been called ‘too fucking polite’ and ‘a huge
fucking grouch’ by people that know him.
R INTYE
K AHLIL 351
R INTYE
352 K A H L I L R INTYE
K AHLIL
R INTYE
K AHLIL 353
R INTYE
STEWART ROBSON
Stewart Robson began tattooing in early 2004, and became a full-time
professional in October 2006. In July 2007 he accepted an invitation
to work at Frith Street Tattoo in Soho, London. Although he is self-
taught, he learned, and continues to learn, a great deal from the people
he works with and the people who have tattooed him. He considers
himself a tattooer, rather than an artist. He most enjoys working in
several established tattoo styles: Japanese, Traditional Western and
Black & Grey.
STEWART ROBSON
Stewart Robson began tattooing in early 2004, and became a full-time
professional in October 2006. In July 2007 he accepted an invitation
to work at Frith Street Tattoo in Soho, London. Although he is self-
taught, he learned, and continues to learn, a great deal from the people
he works with and the people who have tattooed him. He considers
himself a tattooer, rather than an artist. He most enjoys working in
several established tattoo styles: Japanese, Traditional Western and
Black & Grey.
356
S T E WA R T
R OBSON
S T E WA R T 357
R OBSON
358 S T E W A R T R OBSON
S T E WA R T
R OBSON
S T E WA R T 359
R OBSON
361
MIKE RUBENDALL
Mike Rubendall was born and raised in Long Island, New York.
He began his apprenticeship in 1995 at Da Vinci Tattoo, and
started work as a professional a year later. In 2003, he and
Henning Jorgensen started a Flash distribution company, Tattoo
Elite International.
Along with his busy schedule and constant travelling, Mike opened
Kings Avenue Tattoo in 2005. He currently works there full time,
specializing in Chinese/Japanese designs, black and grey work, and
American Traditional tattooing.
362 M I K E R U B E N DA L L
364 M I K E R U B E N DA L L
KIM
SAIGH
Kim Saigh’s interest in tattooing
began aged 16, moments before
she received her first tattoo.
Apprenticed at 18 in Cleveland,
Ohio, she soon relocated to
Chicago to work alongside Guy
Aitchison at Guilty & Innocent
Productions. In 1999, she opened
Cherry Bomb Tattoo in the
Wicker Park neighbourhood of
Chicago’s North Side. She has
always felt that this highly public,
yet – ironically – overlooked, art
form is “by far the most sacred”.
Her illustrative style is influenced
by everything from fairy tales to
iconographic religious images,
from art nouveau to architecture,
and from mythical imagery to
nature, whose organic flow
lends itself to being draped over
the human body. She enjoys
the freedom of having no one
particular style which allows her to
assimilate all her inspirations into
each piece, keeping the medium
new and fun. When not tattooing,
she is likely to be found upside
down or spending time with the
love of her life, Geezer.
368
K IM
S AIGH
K IM 369
S AIGH
370 K I M S AIGH
373
SILVIA Z
Silvia Z comes from “a little
town near Venice, in Italy”,
but she moved to London
12 years ago. She became
a tattooist thanks to Alex,
a French tattoo artist she
met in Mexico. She did her
first tattoo on him six years
ago. She loves to tattoo in
realistic, black-and-grey style,
but also enjoys mixing that
with different cultural styles,
particularly Tibetan. She says,
“Special thanks to Alex and
those in the tattoo world who
believed in me.”
374 S I L V I A Z
S I LV I A 375
Z
S I LV I A 377
Z
379
SISTER SAMMY
Sister Sammy has been on the tattoo scene for over ten years.
She loves doing old-fashioned pin-ups and is also a big fan of the
Americana comic-book style.
She loves big, bold, colourful imagery, but is also quite happy to
escape into a really dark, lustrous, Japanese piece. She is often
amazed and inspired by some of her customers’ ideas, and loves
adding her own little twist to their concepts. As she says, “Making
someone fall in love with their own arm or leg is hilarious, I love
my job!”
380 S I S T E R S AMMY
382
S ISTER
S AMMY
S ISTER 383
S AMMY
384 D A R R E N S TA R E S
DARREN STARES
Darren Stares has been tattooing for about 24
SUZI
Q
Suzi Q has gone from a sleepy Welsh village to the most
geographically
isolated city in the world. She grew up in south Wales, in the United
Kingdom, in the 70s and it was not until 2001, in the United States,
that she first picked up a tattoo machine as part of her
apprenticeship
at Lucky Lady Studios, in North Carolina. During the following
seven
years she worked at studios and conventions throughout the United
States, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia, which she now calls
home.
She works at Holdfast Tattoo, a busy, modern, custom studio just
ten
minutes outside Perth, tattooing her favourite neo-traditional style
as
well as others, such as black and grey, 50s’ pin-ups, rockabilly,
zombie,
and Vegas-themed designs.
391
SUZI
Q
Suzi Q has gone from a sleepy Welsh village to the most
geographically
isolated city in the world. She grew up in south Wales, in the United
Kingdom, in the 70s and it was not until 2001, in the United States,
that she first picked up a tattoo machine as part of her
apprenticeship
at Lucky Lady Studios, in North Carolina. During the following
seven
years she worked at studios and conventions throughout the United
States, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia, which she now calls
home.
She works at Holdfast Tattoo, a busy, modern, custom studio just
ten
minutes outside Perth, tattooing her favourite neo-traditional style
as
well as others, such as black and grey, 50s’ pin-ups, rockabilly,
zombie,
and Vegas-themed designs.
392 S U Z I Q
S UZI 393
Q
394 S U Z I Q
396
397
TOMAS
TOMAS
Tomas Tomas has declined
interviews in the last decade,
nevertheless he issued this
statement: “In the recent years,
too much has been written
and said about tattooing and
tattooists . . . let’s face it, none
of it is actually any interesting
or relevant. My only wish is that
the readers of this book enjoy the
tattoos in these photos as much as
I have enjoyed tattooing them.”
Thank you.
398 T O M A S T OMAS
T OMAS
T OMAS
T OMAS 399
T OMAS
400 T O M A S T OMAS
T OMAS
T OMAS
T OMAS 401
T OMAS
403
28 years, but professionally for
MICK TOMO
Mick Tomo first opened Ruby Arts
in York, England, at the age of 17.
He has been tattooing for around
T OMO
M ICK 407
T OMO
409
BOB TYRRELL
Having an incredible artist for a father, Bob Tyrrell grew up
wanting to be an artist himself. But he started playing guitar in
his teens, and spent the next 15
T YRRELL
B OB 411
T YRRELL
412 B O B T YRRELL
B OB
T YRRELL
B OB 413
T YRRELL
VALERIE VARGAS
Valerie Vargas started tattooing
professionally in 2007 after leaving
Scotland where she had lived since her
teenage years. Six months later she
moved to London where she began
working at Soho’s longest established
studio, Frith Street Tattoo, where she
has been ever since.
415
ALERIE VARGAS
Valerie Vargas started tattooing
professionally in 2007 after leaving
Scotland where she had lived since her
teenage years. Six months later she
moved to London where she began
working at Soho’s longest established
studio, Frith Street Tattoo, where she
has been ever since.
416 V ALERIE V ARGAS
V ALERIE
V ARGAS
V ALERIE 417
V ARGAS
V ALERIE
V ARGAS
V ALERIE 419
V ARGAS
421
DARRIN WHITE
Darrin White started tattooing when he was 18, working as an
apprentice in a tattoo shop in Atlanta, Georgia. For a few years,
he had his own shop in Atlanta, but, deciding that he would
rather not work in just one spot, he shut up shop and moved to
Ashville, North Carolina. At the same time he began to travel,
doing guest spots all over the world. Every day he gets to work
with new artists that he can learn from.
DARRIN WHITE
Darrin White started tattooing when he was 18, working as an
apprentice in a tattoo shop in Atlanta, Georgia. For a few years,
he had his own shop in Atlanta, but, deciding that he would
rather not work in just one spot, he shut up shop and moved to
Ashville, North Carolina. At the same time he began to travel,
doing guest spots all over the world. Every day he gets to work
with new artists that he can learn from.
W HITE
D ARRIN 423
W HITE
424 D ARRIN W HITE
D ARRIN
W HITE
D ARRIN 425
W HITE
426
427
KURT W INSCOMBE
Kurt Winscombe works with Alex Adams at Tattoos for the
Individual, established in 1996. With many years of tattooing
experience, Kurt is constantly striving to push the boundaries
of his art and “put it to skin” on the dedicated group of people
who come from near and far to have tattoos done. Kurt also
creates art using other media.
428 K U R T W INSCOMBE
K URT
W INSCOMBE
K URT 431
W INSCOMBE
433
SEAN “WOODY”
WOODS
Woody describes his
occupation as
being a “cure for wealthy
Chroma-
Junkies.” As he puts it, “In
an
otherwise cardboard-
coloured
world where mediocrity is
accepted
as standard and bland is
the usual
there will always be a need
for
agents of change charged
with the
task of uplifting the lead-
weighted
souls from the drudging
reality
of normality.” He feels a
duty to
a “higher task” which has
never
been to put images into
bodies, but
is “to break through the
armour of
the astral being to free the
higher
person within.” He adds:
“An
organo-mechanical future
awaits
all those who choose the
path of
reaching out of the
mundane to
the very heart of the
Gods” before
acknowledging, “This
hyperbolic
and psychedelic crap was
beaten
out of me by brain-
stupefying lack
of slumber. The
typewriters made
me do it.”
433
SEAN “WOODY”
WOODS
Woody describes his
occupation as
being a “cure for wealthy
Chroma-
Junkies.” As he puts it, “In
an
otherwise cardboard-
coloured
world where mediocrity is
accepted
as standard and bland is
the usual
there will always be a need
for
agents of change charged
with the
task of uplifting the lead-
weighted
souls from the drudging
reality
of normality.” He feels a
duty to
a “higher task” which has
never
been to put images into
bodies, but
is “to break through the
armour of
the astral being to free the
higher
person within.” He adds:
“An
organo-mechanical future
awaits
all those who choose the
path of
reaching out of the
mundane to
the very heart of the
Gods” before
acknowledging, “This
hyperbolic
and psychedelic crap was
beaten
out of me by brain-
stupefying lack
of slumber. The
typewriters made
me do it.”
S EAN “ W O O DY ”
W OODS
S EAN “ W O O DY ” 435
W OODS
436 S E A N “ W O O DY ”
W OODS
XAM
Xam was born in Spain in 1975
and has been tattooing since 1997.
He is currently working in London.
He says, “Everything has been
said, everything has been done.”
439
AM
O O
I S T
447 S