The

Mammoth Book of

TATTOOS
 Also available

The Mammoth Book of 20th Century Science Fiction

The Mammoth Book of Best Horror Comics
The Mammoth Book of Best of Best New SF
The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica 7
The Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 2
The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 20
The Mammoth Book of Best War Comics
The Mammoth Book of Bikers
The Mammoth Book of Boys’ Own Stuff
The Mammoth Book of Celebrity Murders
The Mammoth Book of Comic Fantasy
The Mammoth Book of Comic Quotes
The Mammoth Book of Cover-Ups
The Mammoth Book of CSI
The Mammoth Book of the Deep
The Mammoth Book of Dirty, Sick, X-Rated & Politically Incorrect Jokes
The Mammoth Book of Erotic Online Diaries
The Mammoth Book of Erotic Women
The Mammoth Book of Extreme Fantasy
The Mammoth Book of Funniest Cartoons of All Time
The Mammoth Book of Hard Men
The Mammoth Book of Illustrated True Crime
The Mammoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces
The Mammoth Book of International Erotica
The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper
The Mammoth Book of the Kama Sutra
The Mammoth Book of Killers at Large
The Mammoth Book of Lesbian Erotica
The Mammoth Book of Maneaters
The Mammoth Book of Modern Ghost Stories
The Mammoth Book of Monsters
The Mammoth Book of Mountain Disasters
The Mammoth Book of New Gay Erotica
The Mammoth Book of New Terror
The Mammoth Book of On the Road
The Mammoth Book of Pirates
The Mammoth Book of Poker
The Mammoth Book of Prophecies
The Mammoth Book of Sex, Drugs and Rock ’N’ Roll
The Mammoth Book of True Crime
The Mammoth Book of True War Stories
 Also available

oth Book of 20th Century Science Fiction

ammoth Book of Best Horror Comics
ammoth Book of Best of Best New SF
Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica 7
Mammoth Book of Best New Manga 2
Mammoth Book of Best New SF 20
Mammoth Book of Best War Comics
The Mammoth Book of Bikers
Mammoth Book of Boys’ Own Stuff
Mammoth Book of Celebrity Murders
Mammoth Book of Comic Fantasy
Mammoth Book of Comic Quotes
he Mammoth Book of Cover-Ups
The Mammoth Book of CSI
The Mammoth Book of the Deep
Dirty, Sick, X-Rated & Politically Incorrect Jokes
ammoth Book of Erotic Online Diaries
Mammoth Book of Erotic Women
Mammoth Book of Extreme Fantasy
oth Book of Funniest Cartoons of All Time
he Mammoth Book of Hard Men
mmoth Book of Illustrated True Crime
mmoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces
ammoth Book of International Erotica
Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper
Mammoth Book of the Kama Sutra
Mammoth Book of Killers at Large
Mammoth Book of Lesbian Erotica
he Mammoth Book of Maneaters
mmoth Book of Modern Ghost Stories
The Mammoth Book of Monsters
ammoth Book of Mountain Disasters
Mammoth Book of New Gay Erotica
he Mammoth Book of New Terror
e Mammoth Book of On the Road
The Mammoth Book of Pirates
The Mammoth Book of Poker
he Mammoth Book of Prophecies
oth Book of Sex, Drugs and Rock ’N’ Roll
he Mammoth Book of True Crime
Mammoth Book of True War Stories
The Mammoth Book of
TATTOOS

Edited by Lal Hardy

 Constable & Robinson Ltd
162 Fulham Palace Road 3 The Lanchesters

London W6 9ER
www.constablerobinson.com

7 9 10 8 6 First published in the UK by Robinson,

an imprint of Constable & Robinson Ltd, 2009
9 8 7 Copyright © 2009 in tattoo photographs:
individual artists as listed on page 5, unless otherwise indicated
2300 Chestnut Street Copyright © 2009 in Introduction: Lal Hardy

All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition

that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold,
hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover
other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition
including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A copy of the British Library Cataloguing in Publication

Data is available from the British Library

UK ISBN 978-1-84529-740-4

First published in the United States in 2009 by Running Press Book

All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright
Publishers
Conventions
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
any means,
storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without
information
written permission from the publisher.

Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing

US ISBN 9780762436316

Running Press Book Publishers

Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371

Visit us on the web!

www.running press.com

Designed by Mitchell Associates

www.mitch.uk.com

Printed and bound in China.

Copyright © 2009 in tattoo photographs: individual artists as listed on page
5, unless otherwise indicated
Copyright © 2009 in Introduction: Lal Hardy
12 CONTENTS
18
156
Adam da Punk . . . . . . . . Dave Fox. . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Oliver . .
300 Hannah Aitchison . . . . . Chris Garver . . . . . . . . . 162
. . . . . .
Jeff Ortega . . . .
. . . . . .
438 Luke Atkinson . . . . . . . . 24 Rhys Gordon. . . . . . . . . 168 Luca Ortis . . . .
. . . . . . .
Sergey Bardadim . . . . . . . 30 Wayne Grace. . . . . . . . . 174 Piotrek . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
Neil Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Allan Graves . . . . . . . . . 180 Rodney Raines .
. . . . . .
Bez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Rose Hardy. . . . . . . . . . 186 Jeff Rassier . . . .
. . . . . .
Naresh Bhana . . . . . . . . 48 Jo Harrison . . . . . . . . . . 192 Steff Reider . . .
. . . . . . .
Big Gus . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Harry and Ely . . . . . . . . 198 Alex Reinke. . .

Alex Binnie . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Hercoly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 . . . . . . .

Kahlil Rintye . . .
. . . . . .
Matt Black . . . . . . . . . . 66 Chris Higgins . . . . . . . . 210 Stewart Robson .
. . . . . . .
The Bond Family . . . . . . 72 Thomas Hooper . . . . . . 216 Mike Rubendall
. . . . . .
George Bone . . . . . . . . . 78 Saira Hunjan . . . . . . . . . 222 Kim Saigh . . . .
. . . . . . .
Paul Booth . . . . . . . . . . 84 Henning Jorgensen . . . . 228 Silvia Z . . . . . .
. . . . . .
Dave Bryant . . . . . . . . . 90 Tim Kern. . . . . . . . . . . . 234 Sister Sammy . . .
. . . . . .
Jason Butcher . . . . . . . . . 96 Chad Koeplinger . . . . . . 240 Darren Stares . .
. . . . . .
Matt Butler . . . . . . . . . . 102 Phil Kyle . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 Suzi Q . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
Steve Byrne . . . . . . . . 108 Tim Lehi . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 Tomas Tomas . .
. . . . . .
Joe Capobianco . . . . . . . 114 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 Mick Tomo . . . .
. . . . . .
Marco Cerretelli . . . . . . 120 Nikole Lowe . . . . . . . . . 264 Bob Tyrrell . . . . .
. . . . .
Claudia . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Corey Miller . . . . . . . . . 270 Valerie Vargas . .
. . . . .
Mo Coppoletta . . . . . . . 132 Mirek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 Darrin White . . .
. . . . .
Wido de Marval . . . . . . 138 Louis Molloy . . . . . . . . . 282 Kurt Winscombe
. . . . . .
Rob Doubtfire . . . . . . . . 144 Chris O’Donnell . . . . . . 288 Sean Woods. . .
. . . . . . .
Kian Forreal . . . . . . . . . 150 Leigh Oldcorn . . . . . . . . 294 Xam . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
CONTENTS

Adam da Punk . . . . . . . . Dave Fox. . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Oliver . .

. . . . . .
Hannah Aitchison . . . . . Chris Garver . . . . . . . . . 162 Jeff Ortega . . . . 306
. . . . . .
Luke Atkinson . . . . . . . . 24 Rhys Gordon. . . . . . . . . 168 Luca Ortis . . . . 312
. . . . . . .
Sergey Bardadim . . . . . . . 30 Wayne Grace. . . . . . . . . 174 Piotrek . . . . . . . 318
. . . . . . .
Neil Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Allan Graves . . . . . . . . . 180 Rodney Raines . 324
. . . . . .
Bez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Rose Hardy. . . . . . . . . . 186 Jeff Rassier . . . . 330
. . . . . .
Naresh Bhana . . . . . . . . 48 Jo Harrison . . . . . . . . . . 192 Steff Reider . . . 336
. . . . . . .
Big Gus . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Harry and Ely . . . . . . . . 198 Alex Reinke. . . 342

Alex Binnie . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Hercoly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 . . . . . . .

Kahlil Rintye . . . 348
. . . . . .
Matt Black . . . . . . . . . . 66 Chris Higgins . . . . . . . . 210 Stewart Robson . 354
. . . . . . .
The Bond Family . . . . . . 72 Thomas Hooper . . . . . . 216 Mike Rubendall 360
. . . . . .
George Bone . . . . . . . . . 78 Saira Hunjan . . . . . . . . . 222 Kim Saigh . . . . 366
. . . . . . .
Paul Booth . . . . . . . . . . 84 Henning Jorgensen . . . . 228 Silvia Z . . . . . . 372
. . . . . .
Dave Bryant . . . . . . . . . 90 Tim Kern. . . . . . . . . . . . 234 Sister Sammy . . . 378
. . . . . .
Jason Butcher . . . . . . . . . 96 Chad Koeplinger . . . . . . 240 Darren Stares . . 384
. . . . . .
Matt Butler . . . . . . . . . . 102 Phil Kyle . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 Suzi Q . . . . . . . 390
. . . . . . .
Steve Byrne . . . . . . . . 108 Tim Lehi . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 Tomas Tomas . . 396
. . . . . .
Joe Capobianco . . . . . . . 114 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 Mick Tomo . . . . 402
. . . . . .
Marco Cerretelli . . . . . . 120 Nikole Lowe . . . . . . . . . 264 Bob Tyrrell . . . . . 408
. . . . .
Claudia . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Corey Miller . . . . . . . . . 270 Valerie Vargas . . 414
. . . . .
Mo Coppoletta . . . . . . . 132 Mirek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 Darrin White . . . 420
. . . . .
Wido de Marval . . . . . . 138 Louis Molloy . . . . . . . . . 282 Kurt Winscombe 426
. . . . . .
Rob Doubtfire . . . . . . . . 144 Chris O’Donnell . . . . . . 288 Sean Woods. . . 432
. . . . . . .
Kian Forreal . . . . . . . . . 150 Leigh Oldcorn . . . . . . . . 294 Xam . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
6

INTRODUCTION

When I first took a decidedly serious interest in the colourful

world of tattooing and body adornment in the early 1970s it
was almost impossible to find any printed information on this
ancient and fascinating art form.
A little bit of research revealed that two books had been
published in Britain, both of them way back in the 1950s –
George Burchett and Peter Leighton’s Memoirs of a Tattoo
Artist and Hanns Ebensten’s Pierced Hearts and True Love
However, trying to locate them proved a futile task –
according to the chief librarian at my local library, both titles
had been stolen some time ago!
Then, one day in
1974, I asked again at
a large bookshop if
they had any books on
tattooing, fully
expecting to be told
that they did not.
Instead the assistant
walked over to one of
the lower shelves and
presented me with a
copy of a newly
published book
entitled Skin Deep –
The Mystery of
Tattooing by Ronald
Scutt and Christopher
Gotch. I handed over
the princely sum of
£8.50 (I was earning
£23 a week in those
days) and headed
home to devour the
contents. Reading it, I
6

INTRODUCTION

When I first took a decidedly serious interest in the colourful

world of tattooing and body adornment in the early 1970s it
was almost impossible to find any printed information on this
ancient and fascinating art form.
A little bit of research revealed that two books had been
published in Britain, both of them way back in the 1950s –
George Burchett and Peter Leighton’s Memoirs of a Tattoo
Artist and Hanns Ebensten’s Pierced Hearts and True Love.
However, trying to locate them proved a futile task –
according to the chief librarian at my local library, both titles
had been stolen some time ago!
Then, one day in
1974, I asked again at
a large bookshop if
they had any books on
tattooing, fully
expecting to be told
that they did not.
Instead the assistant
walked over to one of
the lower shelves and
presented me with a
copy of a newly
published book
entitled Skin Deep –
The Mystery of
Tattooing by Ronald
Scutt and Christopher
Gotch. I handed over
the princely sum of
£8.50 (I was earning
£23 a week in those
days) and headed
home to devour the
contents. Reading it, I
 INTRODUCTION

work compared with what is being

created today,
but the book served as an introduction to
the world
of tattooing and it remains a reference
volume that
I treasure.
Aaron Hewitt

The Teddy boy revival and punk

movements
of the 1970s revived interest in
tattooing and the tattoo ball was well
by the 1980s
and trulyAlthough most tattoo studios
rolling.
were off
the beaten track and the trade was pretty much a secret
society, a few
more publications were coming off the presses. In 1982, Don Ed
Hardy
– now a familiar name in the world of fashion due to his designs
clothes worn by the rich and famous – hosted a tattoo
used on
convention, The
Queen Mary Tattoo Expo, held on The Queen Mary liner in Long
Beach,
California. It attracted some of the most innovative artists from
around
the world, including Bob Roberts, Greg Irons, Bill Salmon, The
Dutchman,
Leo Zulueta, Mike Malone, Kandi Everett, Dennis Cockell, and
George
Bone, to name just a few. All the artists exhibited clients with their
etched into their flesh; it was a turning point in the world of
artwork
tattooing. As
the tattooists returned to their own towns and countries, their
heads filled
with inspiration and eager to put onto skin their newfound
knowledge, the
renaissance of tattooing had already begun. Soon, conventions
were being
held in more and more countries across the globe.
Biker magazines saw a market and began to print one-off
editions, “tattoo”
featuring biker tattoos. These in turn became more
regular
journals, eventually resulting in monthly colour tattoo magazines
available
in mainstream outlets, featuring a broad spectrum of tattooed folk.
Tattooists like Lyle Tuttle in San Francisco, Hanky
Panky in
 INTRODUCTION

work compared with what is being

created today,
but the book served as an introduction to
the world
of tattooing and it remains a reference
volume that
I treasure.
Aaron Hewitt

The Teddy boy revival and punk

movements
of the 1970s revived interest in
tattooing and the tattoo ball was well
by the 1980s
and trulyAlthough most tattoo studios
rolling.
were off
the beaten track and the trade was pretty much a secret
society, a few
more publications were coming off the presses. In 1982, Don Ed
Hardy
– now a familiar name in the world of fashion due to his designs
clothes worn by the rich and famous – hosted a tattoo
used on
convention, The
Queen Mary Tattoo Expo, held on The Queen Mary liner in Long
Beach,
California. It attracted some of the most innovative artists from
around
the world, including Bob Roberts, Greg Irons, Bill Salmon, The
Dutchman,
Leo Zulueta, Mike Malone, Kandi Everett, Dennis Cockell, and
George
Bone, to name just a few. All the artists exhibited clients with their
etched into their flesh; it was a turning point in the world of
artwork
tattooing. As
the tattooists returned to their own towns and countries, their
heads filled
with inspiration and eager to put onto skin their newfound
knowledge, the
renaissance of tattooing had already begun. Soon, conventions
were being
held in more and more countries across the globe.
Biker magazines saw a market and began to print one-off
editions, “tattoo”
featuring biker tattoos. These in turn became more
regular
journals, eventually resulting in monthly colour tattoo magazines
available
in mainstream outlets, featuring a broad spectrum of tattooed folk.
Tattooists like Lyle Tuttle in San Francisco, Hanky
Panky in
8
Theresa Gordon Wade

Holland, and Lionel Titchener in Britain all gathered together

tattoo
artefacts and collections and opened museums. Photographer
Chris
Wroblewski travelled the world producing numerous tattoo
books
documenting not just Western-style tattooing, but also
Japanese, Thai,
Burmese, Bornean, New Zealand, and so on.
The tattoo world was growing, and growing fast;
inspiration was
coming from all directions – from different art forms, from
global tattoo
styles, from the artwork of different subcultures, from punk . . .
psychobilly
. . . rock music. The fall of the Iron Curtain also resulted in an
upsurge of
tattoo artists in countries where tattooing had been banned. Places
tattoo had been falling into decline suddenly witnessed the art
where
form rise
like a phoenix from the ashes.
The United States had been the inspiration for much of the
tattoo
boom of the 1980s, but Europe now started to spawn incredible
artists
like Bernie Luther, Filip Leu, Klaus Faurhman, Tin Tin, Luke
Atkinson,
and Mick of Zurich. In the United Kingdom established artists like
George
Bone, Phil Bond, Saz Saunders, and Brent and Dennis Cockell
began to
push British tattooing ever upward, and with new artists such as
Ian of
Reading and Micky Sharpz pioneering new styles, demand for
tattooing
reached unprecedented heights.
More recently, satellite TV has opened new doors for
tattooing.
Tattoo reality shows like Miami Ink, Inked, LA Ink, and
London Ink
have brought tattooing into the home. The influence of such
programmes
cannot be overestimated; they have influenced a whole new
generation
of tattoo clients, who often seek to have a design they have seen
on a TV
show replicated. The Discovery and National Geographic TV
channels
have broadcast documentaries on tattooing among tribes and other
groups
8
Theresa Gordon Wade

Holland, and Lionel Titchener in Britain all gathered together

tattoo
artefacts and collections and opened museums. Photographer
Chris
Wroblewski travelled the world producing numerous tattoo
books
documenting not just Western-style tattooing, but also
Japanese, Thai,
Burmese, Bornean, New Zealand, and so on.
The tattoo world was growing, and growing fast;
inspiration was
coming from all directions – from different art forms, from
global tattoo
styles, from the artwork of different subcultures, from punk . . .
psychobilly
. . . rock music. The fall of the Iron Curtain also resulted in an
upsurge of
tattoo artists in countries where tattooing had been banned. Places
tattoo had been falling into decline suddenly witnessed the art
where
form rise
like a phoenix from the ashes.
The United States had been the inspiration for much of the
tattoo
boom of the 1980s, but Europe now started to spawn incredible
artists
like Bernie Luther, Filip Leu, Klaus Faurhman, Tin Tin, Luke
Atkinson,
and Mick of Zurich. In the United Kingdom established artists like
George
Bone, Phil Bond, Saz Saunders, and Brent and Dennis Cockell
began to
push British tattooing ever upward, and with new artists such as
Ian of
Reading and Micky Sharpz pioneering new styles, demand for
tattooing
reached unprecedented heights.
More recently, satellite TV has opened new doors for
tattooing.
Tattoo reality shows like Miami Ink, Inked, LA Ink, and
London Ink
have brought tattooing into the home. The influence of such
programmes
cannot be overestimated; they have influenced a whole new
generation
of tattoo clients, who often seek to have a design they have seen
on a TV
show replicated. The Discovery and National Geographic TV
channels
have broadcast documentaries on tattooing among tribes and other
groups
 INTRODUCTION

of people all over the world, further educating television

audiences in the
wealth and diversity of tattoo art.
For both tattoo artists and collectors of tattoos, the
Internet has
been perhaps the greatest innovation for a generation – web sites
tattoos all over the world provide reference material while tattoo
full of
design
sites, fan sites, and information are all there at the touch of a
button –
instantaneously.
The number of celebrities, rock stars, actors, and sports
stars wearing
hearts and other designs on their arms and other parts of their
bodies has
further brought the art of tattoo into the public eye and influenced
people.
I’d be prepared to bet that when David Beckham received his
“Guardian
Angel” tattoo on his back from Louis Molloy in Manchester
neither of
them thought that the image would become perhaps the single
most famous
tattoo image in the world today – and that it would be tattooed in
various
forms onto the hides of literally thousands of people worldwide.
The striking visuals of tattoo
are now used in numerous adverts
selling everything from ice cream to
automobiles. Tattoo imagery, like that
of 1970s’ anti-establishment punk,
has been groomed and taken into the
mainstream of public life.
For those readers unfamiliar
with tattoo techniques and styles, there
are two ways to do tattoos. The first, by
hand, is how tattooing originated and
how it has been practised by various
x
 INTRODUCTION

of people all over the world, further educating television

audiences in the
wealth and diversity of tattoo art.
For both tattoo artists and collectors of tattoos, the
Internet has
been perhaps the greatest innovation for a generation – web sites
tattoos all over the world provide reference material while tattoo
full of
design
sites, fan sites, and information are all there at the touch of a
button –
instantaneously.
The number of celebrities, rock stars, actors, and sports
stars wearing
hearts and other designs on their arms and other parts of their
bodies has
further brought the art of tattoo into the public eye and influenced
people.
I’d be prepared to bet that when David Beckham received his
“Guardian
Angel” tattoo on his back from Louis Molloy in Manchester
neither of
them thought that the image would become perhaps the single
most famous
tattoo image in the world today – and that it would be tattooed in
various
forms onto the hides of literally thousands of people worldwide.
The striking visuals of tattoo
are now used in numerous adverts
selling everything from ice cream to
automobiles. Tattoo imagery, like that
of 1970s’ anti-establishment punk,
has been groomed and taken into the
mainstream of public life.
For those readers unfamiliar
with tattoo techniques and styles, there
are two ways to do tattoos. The first, by
hand, is how tattooing originated and
how it has been practised by various
x
 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

a piece of living art (as can

be seen in
the photographs which
illustrate this
introduction): a portrait of
a loved
one, or a favourite pet; a
traditional
Japanese image; a modern
twist onclassic design; a
an old
mystical or
spiritual piece; one of the
numerous
tribal styles; a fantasy image; a realistic design; Old School; New
Skool;
or Americana.
This book features the work of nearly 80 tattooists from
the globe. It is a visual reference illustrating some of the many
around
different
styles of tattooing popular around the world today. Some of the
artists
featured, such as Phil Bond and George Bone, have been
pioneering
tattooing for over forty years, while Hannah Aitchison, Corey
Miller,
Chris Garver, and Kim Saigh have become household names
through their
beautiful art being shown on TV. Others, like Valerie Vargas, are
new to
the game, but already cutting a swathe. All of those featured,
though,
are accomplished and committed artists with a love and passion
for the
wonderful art of tattoo.

Lal Hardy
 INTRODUCTION

a piece of living art (as can

be seen in
the photographs which
illustrate this
introduction): a portrait of
a loved
one, or a favourite pet; a
traditional
Japanese image; a modern
twist onclassic design; a
an old
mystical or
spiritual piece; one of the
numerous
tribal styles; a fantasy image; a realistic design; Old School; New
Skool;
or Americana.
This book features the work of nearly 80 tattooists from
the globe. It is a visual reference illustrating some of the many
around
different
styles of tattooing popular around the world today. Some of the
artists
featured, such as Phil Bond and George Bone, have been
pioneering
tattooing for over forty years, while Hannah Aitchison, Corey
Miller,
Chris Garver, and Kim Saigh have become household names
through their
beautiful art being shown on TV. Others, like Valerie Vargas, are
new to
the game, but already cutting a swathe. All of those featured,
though,
are accomplished and committed artists with a love and passion
for the
wonderful art of tattoo.

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

Studio in north London, following 16 years of madness buried up

to his elbows in ink and tattoo fun all around the world. He doesn’t
specialize in styles and says that anyone who comes through his
studio door can get tattooed by him as long as they’re not “dragging
an attitude”. “If you are cool,” he says, “your tattoo will be cool. So
sit down, tell me your life story and DON’T MOVE!”

Adam da Punk photographs © Paul Mann Photography.

 13

2. He now works at New Wave

DAM DA PUNK
Adam da Punk’s tattoo adventure started in the dark depths of
Deptford in south-east London in

Studio in north London, following 16 years of madness buried up

to his elbows in ink and tattoo fun all around the world. He doesn’t
specialize in styles and says that anyone who comes through his
studio door can get tattooed by him as long as they’re not “dragging
an attitude”. “If you are cool,” he says, “your tattoo will be cool. So
sit down, tell me your life story and DON’T MOVE!”

Adam da Punk photographs © Paul Mann Photography.

14 A DA M DA

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-

century American propaganda and pin-up art, and art nouveau.

Sometimes there’s even a skull in there somewhere. When not
“dermatologically decorating” other people, Hannah likes to knit,
box, paint, garden, draw comics, sing, read, cook, sew, repair
vintage cars, travel, attend art gallery openings and live music
events, and “quantify linear A”. Her theory is that good art comes
from good experiences.

She also enjoys long moonlit walks on the beach, pina coladas,
and lawn darts.

Artist picture © Kat Von D.

20
HANNAH
AITCHISON
HANNAH 21
AITCHISON
HANNAH
AITCHISON
HANNAH 23
AITCHISON
24
LUKE ATKINSON
Luke Atkinson is RATATTOO. Born in London in 1965, he grew
up in Cheltenham, where he just about managed to finish school
despite his early interest in tattooing. He has been lucky enough to
have met some of the most influential tattooers of the decade who
have shared their knowledge with him.

He describes himself as eternally grateful for the time they spent

with him, which changed his life. He has been working in Checker
Demon Tattoos in Stuttgart for 16 years and still loves tattooing.

Prior to that he spent seven years on the road gathering

information and gaining experience which makes him very content
with his present life. He became interested in tattooing because of
its magic, and he strives to keep it that way.
LUKE ATKINSON
Luke Atkinson is RATATTOO. Born in London in 1965, he grew
up in Cheltenham, where he just about managed to finish school
despite his early interest in tattooing. He has been lucky enough to
have met some of the most influential tattooers of the decade who
have shared their knowledge with him.

He describes himself as eternally grateful for the time they spent

with him, which changed his life. He has been working in Checker
Demon Tattoos in Stuttgart for 16 years and still loves tattooing.

Prior to that he spent seven years on the road gathering

information and gaining experience which makes him very content
with his present life. He became interested in tattooing because of
its magic, and he strives to keep it that way.
26 L U K E A T K I N S O N
28
30
31

SERGEY “GEORGE” BARDADIM

Sergey Bardadim, known as George, is a Russian artist who did his
first tattoo at the age of 17 using an ordinary needle and thread,
the primitive method in use in Russia at that time. Following
requests from many friends to tattoo them, he created his first
tattoo machine out of a “Sputnik” razor and a sharpened guitar
string; with this device his career began.

In 1993, he and his close collaborator Taras built the first of

successive tattoo machines which were to culminate in a
professional model. Initially, he worked as a guest artist for
studios in Russia, Austria, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

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.

Six years of gaining experience on his lonesome brought the

opportunity to open his own studio, Tattoo-fx. Never looking
back, only to the future, has led the studio from strength to
strength. And rarely turning away work has enabled Neil to gain
experience in a full range of styles.
38 N E I L B ASS
N
B
NEIL 39
BASS
40
43

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”.

Artist picture © Katriona Godward.

44 BEZ
BEZ 45
46 BEZ
48
49

NARESH BHANA “Tattoo has been a lifelong

journey of discovery and adventure, leading
me on a merry dance across the globe
experiencing tattoo in all its forms and
cultural contexts. Collecting tattoos as I
went, I found my body transformed into my
own personal travelogue, and after 20-odd
years of buying just about every tattoo-

related book on the planet I finally get to be in one.”

52
NARESH
BHANA
NARESH 53
BHANA
54
55

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

awards and often had his work published.

He believes that you must always keep learning, trying to be
original. He says, “I have been blessed and lucky to be part of such
an awesome family I call the tattoo world, what else can I ask
for?”
BIG
GUS
BIG 57
GUS
58 BIG
GUS
BIG
GUS
BIG 59
GUS
ALEX BINNIE
“Twenty years on and I’m still
loving it. Mostly!”
ALEX
BINNIE
ALEX 65
BINNIE
MATT BLACK
Matt Black began tattooing in Manchester in 2002, where he
worked for two years with Mark Armstrong at Sacred Art, learning
all the basics, such as how to make needles and so on. In 2004, he
moved to London where he worked with Geoff Healy at BlueFire
Tattoo for about three years. Geoff gave him free rein to do
whatever work he was interested in taking on, enabling him to
build up a good portfolio and develop a style of his own.

Matt now works at New Wave Tattoo. He likes doing neo-tribal,

Polynesian, and dotwork and his main influences are Curly in
Oxford, Xed le Hed in London, and Roonui from Tahiti.
68 M AT T B L A C K
M AT T
BLACK
M AT T 69
BLACK
M AT T
BLACK
M AT T 71
BLACK
73

THE BOND FAMILY

Phil Bond: “We have been in the same location for the past 25
years [Phil Bond’s Tattoo Studio, in Torquay, England]. I have
seen many styles come and go – personally, my favourite style is
Japanese. I feel it will never become outdated. Our apprentice, and
the youngest member of our team at 15 years old, Spike Bond,
works hard and sucks up knowledge like a sponge. One to look
out for in the future.”

Troy Bond: “I am the eldest of seven children and have worked in

our family business for the past 14 years. My personal taste is
modern-day old school.”

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-

renowned Swiss tattooists Filip and Titine Leu, he initiated the

international ArtFusion Experiment, bringing together leading
tattoo artists from around the world to create one-of-a-kind
works of art, also winning an award for his documentary of the
movement. In 2002, his macabre style and his tattooing of
numerous major metal bands led Rolling Stone magazine to dub
him “the king of rock tattoos”. He is devoted to the horror genre,
and has had a long relationship with film.
88 P A U L B OOTH
91
2008, he established the Order of the

DAVE BRYANT
Dave Bryant began tattooing in his native England in early 1999.

After two years tattooing in studios and feeling that a progressive

environment was eluding him, he headed for Canada where he
spent the next four years learning from a multitude of talented
artists across the country, but working for the most part at
Universal, in Victoria, British Columbia. On returning to England,
he was hired by Evil from the Needle and worked between
London and Chicago at Deluxe Tattoo, before settling at Evil
from the Needle, where he has been since 2006. In July

Forbidden Donut, an organization bent on world domination.

D AV E
B RYA N T
D AV E 93
B RYA N T
94
D AV E
B RYA N T
D AV E 95
B RYA N T
97

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

recognizable style with both bold traditional and modern Japanese

works in his Name and Blood Studio in Leeds, England. He
maintains a punishing schedule, not only in Leeds, but all over the
world with regular guest spots.
110 STEVE BYRNE
STEVE
STEVE BYRNE 111
112 STEVE BYRNE
STEVE
STEVE BYRNE 113
115

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

MARCO C ERRETELLI Marco Cerretelli was

born and raised in Florence, Italy.
His first encounter with tattooing
came while he was in the Italian
Army where he built his first
tattoo machine out of an old
Walkman, a toothbrush, and a pen.
From 1998 to 2002, when he
After a year spent working in New York, he moved to Los Angeles,
graduated from the Academy of
California, in 2003 where he now works for the legendary Bob
Art in Florence, he worked for
Roberts at Spotlight Tattoo, alongside other great artists.
Maurizio Fiorini, “Il Maestro”, the
oldest living Italian tattoo artist.
After participating in a few tattoo
conventions and art shows and
122 M A RC O CERRETELLI
127

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

MO C OPPOLETTA Mo Coppoletta started

tattooing in 1997 after several years
spent running around the world
visiting his favourite artists and
Those were the days of the “Great Tattoo Renaissance” with a
flood of mind-blowing tattoos from all over the world – Japan,
collecting tattoos.
Europe, America – the like of which the world had never seen
before. As he puts it, “How many times did I hear, ‘This is it . . . it
can’t get any bigger . . .’? And I felt I got into it a bit late. Well, we
were all wrong. The magic world of tattooing has grown bigger and
better than any of us could ever have expected. I feel very fortunate
to belong to such a world and to have made my passion my
everyday profession.”
134 MO C O P P O L E T TA
136
MO C O P P O L E T TA
MO C O P P O L E T TA 137
139

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”

way, he can turn his hand to all styles.

170 R H Y S G O R D O N
172 R H Y S G O R D O N
R H Y S G
R H Y S G O R D O N 173
175

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.

Haunted is closed, he can be found at Jolie Rouge on Caledonian Road in London.

184
187

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

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 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

HARRY AND ELY

It was obvious to Harry from the embryonic stages of trying to understand the tattooing process and
goes with it that he was leading himself down a path that would bring him a great deal of frustration
heartache, but that would also ultimately prove to be one of the most challenging and rewarding dec
would ever make.

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

TIM LEHI “Tattooing

over 18 years now,
I tattoo in many
styles and also
paint and make
it’s gone through many drastic, not-so-
music . . . uh, what
good changes and become a bit
else? Still stoked on
mainstream – with the right reasons it
will survive. The rest?
tattooing tho’
Who cares?”
254 TI M L E H I
256 TI M L E H I
T
TI M L E H I 257
259

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

Mirek, whose nickname is Stotker (a German version of his Polish

nickname Szczota), is originally from Poland, where he started
tattooing in 1992. In 1993 he opened one of the first tattoo studios in
Poland, Joker Tattoo, in Kraków. After working for seven years in his
studio he left Poland to travel around Europe and the rest of the world,
gaining valuable tattooing experience. He now has his own tattoo and
body piercing studio, Stotker Tattoo, in Angel, London. He has won
awards from tattoo conventions in Berlin, Vienna, and Tahiti. He likes
to do realistic-style tattoos and specializes in portraits, of both humans
and animals.
 IREK

Mirek, whose nickname is Stotker (a German version of his Polish

nickname Szczota), is originally from Poland, where he started
tattooing in 1992. In 1993 he opened one of the first tattoo studios in
Poland, Joker Tattoo, in Kraków. After working for seven years in his
studio he left Poland to travel around Europe and the rest of the world,
gaining valuable tattooing experience. He now has his own tattoo and
body piercing studio, Stotker Tattoo, in Angel, London. He has won
awards from tattoo conventions in Berlin, Vienna, and Tahiti. He likes
to do realistic-style tattoos and specializes in portraits, of both humans
and animals.
MIREK 279
MIREK 281
282
283

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”.

Occasionally he looks up to see the

devastation this sentence causes to himself
and to the people around him, yet still he
feels compelled to carry on “this love
affair”. He feels that it is impossible to
glean individuality from the pages of
Flash books and magazines – either you
have it, or you don’t, and if you don’t
have it, you never will.

Comic-book sleeve photograph © Matt Wright.

284 LOUI S M O L L OY
286 LOUI S M O L L OY
CHRIS O’DONNELL
Chris O’Donnell started
tattooing in 1993 and
moved to New York City
in 2000. He works at New
York Adorned where he
specializes in large-scale,
Japanese-inspired tattooing,
though he enjoys most
styles that are open to
interpretation.
290 CHRI S O ’ D ONNELL
292
CHRI S O ’ D
CHRI S O ’ D ONNELL 293
294
295

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.”

His main interests are cards, Top Gear,

weight training, and his two
Staffordshire bull terriers.
296 LEI GH O L D C O R N
298 LEI GH O L D C O R N
LEI GH O
LEI GH O LDCORN 299
301

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

JEFF ORTEGA Currently at Evil from the

Needle, Jeff Ortega cut his teeth at
Rising Dragon Tattoo in New York.
He learned the old school way which
took him from scrubbing the
floors/cleaning the toilet/making
Market area. His artistic influences range from Michelangelo to
needles etc. right up to the present day
the graffiti scene. He has been tattooing for over 15 years.
when he owns his own studio, Evil
from the Needle, in London’s thriving
Camden Town/
308 J E F F O RTEGA
J EFF
O RTEGA
J EFF 309
O RTEGA
310 J E F F O RTEGA
J EFF
O RTEGA
J EFF 311
O RTEGA
312
313

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

at the time, he still remembers the experience as if it had happened

yesterday. He knew then that it was exactly what he wanted to do
for the rest of his life. He never wanted to be an artist; he just
wanted to be a tattooist, “like a tool for those who wanted to wear
tattoos.” He began his apprenticeship at Varry’s Tattoo and Art
Shop in Sissach, Switzerland, moving after four years, in 2000, to
Lucerne where he now works with Frank at Hot Flash Tattoo.
Travelling is an important part of his work and he has been
grateful to be able to work in other countries with great tattooists
like Sean Wood, Naresh, and Steve Peace, to name just a few.
S TEFF

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

is nothing but a beginner in this trade. He says, “There is nothing

more to know about me, really.

Never forget to ask yourself: What in me is it that reads these

lines, that sees, hears, tastes, feels, smells, and thinks! Look
inward closely!

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.

Having worked in street shops his whole career prior to

landing the fortunate slot he currently occupies, Kahlil can do
anything requested but truly loves doing Japanese; classic,
Western-style one-point; and spooky, epic things . . .
particularly those inspired by the atmospheric writings of Mr
H.P. Lovecraft. He reads too many comic books, yet finds it
quite difficult to write about himself, particularly in the third
person . . .”

He says, “Say what you mean; do what you say.”

350 K A H L I L R INTYE
K AHLIL

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

years. He has worked at numerous conventions all over Europe and

America, winning over 200 trophies and awards for his work.

He is currently working out of his studio in Portsmouth, England.

He says, “In this profession I’ve met some great people and had
some quality times – in fact, still having ’em! Still enjoy going to
work – still tryin’

to improve – still lovin’ it, and still bleedin’ skint!”

386 D A R R E N S TA R E S
388 D A R R E N S TA R E S
390
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.
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

only about 25. He has enjoyed

watching the industry progress
from strength to strength over
the years, and has attended many
tattoo shows around the globe
where he met many great friends,
artists, and enthusiasts. He likes
all kinds of styles and loves a
good challenge to keep him on his
toes. He says, “I definitely think
tattooing is more than a job; it is
a way of life – one which I love!
Rock on . . .”
404 M I C K T OMO
M ICK

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

years playing in heavy metal bands and working a factory job.

He got his first tattoo just before he turned 30 and was
immediately hooked, soon getting his sleeves and a full back
piece done. He got back into drawing and showed some of his
work to Tramp, of Eternal Tattoos, in the Detroit area where he
grew up.

He was offered an apprenticeship and within three months he

was tattooing full time. He is forever grateful to Tramp and to
Tom Renshaw, who took him under his wing. After six years at
Eternal he opened his own studio, Night Gallery, in Detroit.
These days he’d like to cut back on travelling so he can learn to
paint, do more fine art, and tattoo more, but he just can’t stop!
410
B OB

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.

Teaching seminars and going to conventions have become a big part of

what he does and he “wouldn’t change a thing”.
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.

Teaching seminars and going to conventions have become a big part of

what he does and he “wouldn’t change a thing”.
422 D ARRIN W HITE
D ARRIN

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

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.”
440
X AM 441
442 X AM
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Lal Hardy (on the right) was born in 1958 and, although widely
travelled, has spent most of his time living and working around
Muswell Hill, in north London. His interest in tattoo began
through seeing tattoos on members of his family who had been
tattooed whilst serving king and country during and after the First
and Second World Wars. His interest was further kindled during the
Teddy boy revival of the late 1970s and the subsequent punk
explosion. He found a niche tattooing designs onto the flesh of
numerous members of London’s subcultures during this time.
He opened his studio, New Wave Tattoo, in 1979. Outside of
tattooing, his interests are London history, trivia, music, lurchers,
and Tottenham Hotspur football club.

Photograph of Lal © David Baker. With thanks to Sally, the editor of

Total Tattoo Magazine for her help.
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Lal Hardy (on the right) was born in 1958 and, although widely
travelled, has spent most of his time living and working around
Muswell Hill, in north London. His interest in tattoo began
through seeing tattoos on members of his family who had been
tattooed whilst serving king and country during and after the First
and Second World Wars. His interest was further kindled during the
Teddy boy revival of the late 1970s and the subsequent punk
explosion. He found a niche tattooing designs onto the flesh of
numerous members of London’s subcultures during this time.
He opened his studio, New Wave Tattoo, in 1979. Outside of
tattooing, his interests are London history, trivia, music, lurchers,
and Tottenham Hotspur football club.

Photograph of Lal © David Baker. With thanks to Sally, the editor of

Total Tattoo Magazine for her help.
 T A T T O O I S T S
446
Adam da Punk www.myspace.com/tattooadam
Hannah Aitchison www.hannahaitchison.com
Luke Atkinson www.checker-demon-tattoos.com
George Bardadim www.bardadim.com
Neil Bass www.tattoo-fx.co.uk
Naresh Bhana www.flamineight.co.uk
Big Gus www.TattooArtists.org/BIGGUS
Alex Binnie www.alexbinnie.com
Matt Black www.newwavetattoo.co.uk
George Bone www.georgebonetattoos.co.uk
Paul Booth www.darkimages.com
Dave Bryant www.evilfromtheneedle.com
Jason Butcher www.immortal-ink.co.uk
Matt Butler www.gloryboundtattoos.co.uk
Steve Byrne www.myspace.com/innameandbloodtattoo
Joe Capobianco www.myspace.com/whatsnottalike
Marco Cerretelli www.marcocerretelli.com
Claudia www.myspace.com/claudiadesabe
Mo Coppoletta www.thefamilybusinesstattoo.com
Wido de Marval www.widodemarval.com
Kian Forreal www.kianforreal.com
Dave Fox www.evilballs.com
Chris Garver www.chrisgarvertattoo.com
Rhys Gordon www.rhysgordon.com
Wayne Grace www.myspace.com/waynegrace
Allan Graves www.myspace.com/13ghost
Lal Hardy www.lalhardy.co.uk
Rose Hardy www.myspace.com/rose_hardy
Jo Harrison www.joharrison.co.uk
Harry and Ely www.flamineight.co.uk
Chris Higgins www.chrishigginstattoo.com
Thomas Hooper www.myspace.com/thomashooper
Saira Hunjan www.gypsydevi.com
Henning Jorgensen www.royaltattoo.com
 T A
T T

O O

I S T

447 S

Tim Kern www.myspace.com/ymonster

Chad Koeplinger www.myspace.com/koeplinger
Phil Kyle www.magnumopustattoo.com
Tim Lehi www/blackhearttattoosf.com
Low www.myspace.com/northsidetattooz
Nikole Lowe www.myspace.com/nikolelowe
Corey Miller www.sixfeetunder.com
Mirek www.stotkertattoo.com
Louis Molloy www.tattoos.co.uk
Chris O’Donnell www.chrisodonnelltattoo.com
Leigh Oldcorn www.cosmictattoo.com
Megan Oliver www.myspace.com/maglieri
Jeff Ortega www.myspace.com/jeffortega
Luca Ortis www.myspace.com/casaluz
Piotrek www.tatontattoos.com
Rodney Raines www.rodneyraines.com
Jeff Rassier www.blackhearttattoosf.com
Steff Reider www.hotflash.ch
Alex Reinke www.horikitsune.de
Kahlil Rintye www.tattoocitysf.com
Stewart Robson www.stewartrobson.co.uk
Mike Rubendall KingsAvenueTattoo.com
Kim Saigh www.kimsaigh.com
Sister Sammy www.globaltattoostudios.com
Darren Stares www.staresy.com
Suzi Q www.myspace.com/suziqtattoo
Silvia Z www.myspace.com/silviazed
Tomas Tomas www.into-you.co.uk
Mick Tomo www.micktomo.com
Bob Tyrrell www.bobtyrrell.com
Valerie Vargas www.valerievargas.com
Darrin White www.myspace.com/darrinwhitetattoo
Sean (Woody) Woods www.woodystattoostudio.com
Xam www.myspace.com/elementztattoo