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Apprentice love: Emily Roberts aka tv dinner tattoo

Emily Roberts (she/her) apprentices at Cock A Snook in Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne. You might know her as tv dinner tattoo (@tvdinnertattoo), here we about her “ignorant” designs, her journey into the tattoo world and her hopes for the future…

You grew a large social following through your art and flash designs before you were tattooing. Can you tell us about this? 

I started my account in 2022 – the goal was to find an apprenticeship and get into tattooing as a career. To get my name and designs out there, I was determined to draw and post every day to help me find my audience. The support from my followers gave me great motivation to keep searching for a placement and improving my drawing until I eventually find my place at Cock A Snook. 

How did you become a tattoo apprentice? When did you start? 

My account was still new when my now mentor sent me a lovely message about my profile and gave me some words of encouragement to keep pushing and building my portfolio. At the time, they already had an apprentice so there no space for me, but one year later I got a message asking if I’d like to come into the studio to see it and have a talk about a possible apprenticeship opportunity. It all went amazingly and I officially started my apprenticeship in June of 2023.

What inspires your designs? 

I look to my personal interests for inspiration – I find enjoyment in drawing things I’m passionate about. For example, I look back to things I remember from my childhood or I’ll be inspired by a favourite film, song or video game. I also like to look to the ordinary and turn everyday objects into silly designs.

How would you describe your style? 

Ignorant blackwork with some illustrative thrown in there.

What’s the studio like where you’re working? 

The studio is an absolutely amazing space to work and hang out in. All of the artists I work alongside are so supportive and helpful and it’s somewhere I can openly be myself without fear of being judged. Cock A Snook always stood out to me as a studio, even before I found my place there, as it strives to be a safe and inclusive space that is welcoming to everyone.

We’re huge fans of tattoo artist Kezz and the work she does under Tattoo Smarter, is she mentoring you?

Yes, Kezz works as my mentor and has taught me an insane amount about all areas of being a tattoo artist as there is so much to learn both on skin and off. She is also just an incredibly thoughtful, kind and caring person who wants to improve tattooing for the better for artists and clients alike. 

What’s been your favourite thing you’ve learnt so far? 

I think trying out and learning how to use different types of tattoo machines was so fun and informative but I also love the satisfaction of being able to pull a crispy bold line. I’m constantly learning so my answer is always changing…

What’s a day in the life as an apprentice like for you?

During a typical day, I get to the shop and do some of the shared studio cleaning jobs and then start getting set up and ready for whatever I’m tattooing. Any spare time I have inbetween is spent drawing and catching up on admin as well as all the behind the scenes stuff that goes into the job.

When I have time I also like to record “Day in the Life” videos for my social profiles to show off specifically what I get up to as an apprentice. Now that I’m getting progressively faster at tattooing, I sometimes tattoo three clients in a day which is great practice! I also tend to ask a lot of different questions during a day so I can learn new things to help me progress in my journey.

Do you help set up for other artists?

Before I ever went near a tattoo machine, I used to set up my mentor Kezz’s station as much as possible. Repeating the steps I was shown repeatedly was so useful in teaching me the ways to assemble and disassemble a station correctly. There have also been times where artists have been running a bit behind so I’m more than happy to set up for them and help out wherever I can!

What drew you to the tattoo world?  

I’ve been fascinated by tattoos since I was a child and I always knew I wanted to get tattooed myself. Even as a kid, I talked about wanting to become a tattoo artist but didn’t think I’d ever get there. Outside of that, I also just think carrying a permanent piece of art with you through life on your skin is the coolest practice.

What’s your first memory of tattoos or tattooing? 

My grandad had a very old-school traditional swallow tattoo on his upper arm, which I remember being obsessed with when I was small – probably because he was the only person in my whole family with a tattoo. A few years ago, I got a swallow tattoo on my arm to match in his memory. 

Can you tell us about your own tattoo collection? 

I started getting tattooed just after my 18th birthday and now I have 21 tattoos in total by many talented artists from up and down the country. I’d say my favourite tattoos are probably my matching glittery knee webs by @keelyglitters. They’re just stunning and have helped me feel so much more confident about myself and the area they’re tattooed on.

What does the future look like for you? 

My main goal is to continue learning and growing as an artist. In the short time I’ve been an apprentice, I’ve seen great growth in my art and in myself as a person, which I hope continues as I make my way. In the long term, I’d love to be able to guest spot at other studios as well as take part in tattoo conventions and other events. I’m just super excited to see what’s next and where this journey takes me.

Make sure to follow Emily (@tvdinnertattoo) on her tattoo journey and get booked in.

We’re always sharing our favourite tattoo apprentices on the blog, read more interviews here.

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“I find small things in everyday life – I contemplate whether those elements can be expressed through a tattoo,” interview with tattoo artist, Chou

When Korean tattoo artist Chou (@chou_tatt) was becoming curious about the wider world, a serendipitous email landed in her inbox from Chronic Ink tattoo shop in Toronto, Canada. She grabbed the chance to work there without hesitation and moved from her native Korea to her current home of Canada. Here she shares more about her tattoo journey…

What first made you fall in love with tattoos? Do you have a strong first memory?

I first learned about tattoos when I was 16. The guy was a sort-of gangster, I supposed, but also an artist in the Irezumi genre – he always drew dragon faces. At that time, tattoos in Korea were associated with the underground culture of gangsters. I found it quite shocking.

A few years later, I came across a watercolour tattoo by a Korean artist named Graffiti. He gave his client a vibrant red plum blossom on their side. Seeing that artwork, I realised that tattoos could truly be beautiful art forms. This experience became the catalyst for my love of tattoos.

What made you want to become a tattoo artist?

The job seemed cool. The idea of giving people lifelong art on their bodies really appealed to me. Before getting tattoos on my own body, I wanted to understand the principles of tattooing. So, I started learning about tattoos.

How long have you been tattooing for and how did you practice?

I think it’s been around five years now. I fell into the world of tattooing, and I’ve been searching for many teachers. I’ve had four tattoo teachers…

We absolutely adore your beautiful style, how would you describe it? 

I’m an artist who uses rich and sophisticated colour palettes to beautifully adorn the body parts that customers desire.

Where does your inspiration come from?

It seems like I always find something small in everyday life. When exposed to certain visual stimuli, I contemplate whether those elements can be expressed through a tattoo. If it seems feasible, I quickly jot down notes. When I feel the desire to create a design, I revisit those notes, allowing me to filter out the ones that align more with my criteria.

You’re currently based in Canada, what brought you there and why?

While working in Korea, I became curious about the wider world. The tattoo market in Korea had less demand compared to the supply. By chance, Chronic Ink – the shop I now work at in Toronto – reached out to me and I came to Canada!

How do you like to work with your customers to bring designs to life?

It’s incredibly exciting when customers suggest interesting themes to me. Especially, the tattoo ideas featuring blue chrysanthemums, eyeballs, and pocket mice. These have been the most amusing topics in my life. When expressing my own colour palette with various themes, I fall in love with my job all over again.

Is it a collaboration, or do you prefer to have full control of your work?

Well, most of my customers trust me completely. They simply tell me the themes they want, and there’s little to no need for further adjustments when I send them the designs. Thankfully, my clients genuinely trust and respect me.

If a customer has a firm idea of what they want, and it slightly differs from my opinion, I tend to show them a few examples to broaden their choices. Since a tattoo is something that lasts a lifetime once done, I consider this aspect to be very important.

Do you tattoo flash pieces or mostly custom?

I like both, but working with flash pieces is a bit easier. That’s because the completed images are already visualised in my mind, and I just need to bring them to life. So, I sell flash pieces at a bit more affordable prices.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

It’s truly wonderful for me that my profession gives me happiness and I find joy in touching my customers through my work. I genuinely feel blessed. I hope to continue experiencing this happiness in the future and share it with others.

Do you have any plans to travel for guest spots?

I will be working in the UK and Germany from March. If anyone would like to meet me, please contact me through the profile link on my Instagram, @chou_tatt.

Be sure to follow @chou_tatt on Instagram and fill her guest spot spaces.

We’re always talking to amazing tattoo artists, check out our latest interviews.

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“The idea is to convert scars into something pretty; to transform a difficult experience into something beautiful,” interview with Tina Caruso

Tattoo artist Tina Caruso (@tinacarusodot) tattoos at Buzz Club in Leeds. Here she talks about her journey into the tattoo industry, never giving up on her dreams and her new project, the ‘pay as you feel campaign’ for those who’ve had mastectomies…


How long have been tattooing and how did you get started in the industry?

When I was 19, I started out of curiosity. My parents helped me buy my first tattoo machine and get my licence – I started tattooing from their house. At the time, in my small hometown in the south of Spain, there weren’t any tattoo studios.

I moved to the UK in 2016 and tattooing stopped being a priority for me, it wasn’t until 2018 that I tried to find an apprenticeship – I didn’t have much luck. So, I kept practising at home, I started English classes and I found the tattooing style I wanted to go for and put together a professional portfolio. I finally started in my first tattoo studio, Skinz, at the end of 2019.

What inspired you to be an artist? Do you have a background in art?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been painting or drawing. I’ve also experimented with a range of media. I fell in love with oils. My mum’s house is covered in canvases. She has always pushed my creativity.

For me, becoming a tattoo artist came from the urge to be an artist. I felt that selling my art through tattoos would be an easier way to make a living. Now that I feel more settled in the tattoo industry, I can’t wait to start painting my canvases again and combine them with tattooing.

How would you describe your style? Have you always tattooed like that?

No, I started very young, with no guidance – not even YouTube to help me. I didn’t have anyone to ask about styles, so I started with the most popular style: Old School.

I’ve always been curious to try other styles – my first ever portfolio was chaos. It wasn’t until a year before I started working in my first ever tattoo studio that I began to stick to one style. It was dotwork, a very illustrative style – my designs and tattoos would be done dot by dot.

In the studio, I learnt how to whip shade, so I could start evolving my style. It became very dainty with small details creating fine-line realism. I’ve moved more towards surrealism, even more fine, delicate and smooth.

What inspires your designs?

Nowadays, my designs are inspired by people’s emotional scars and happy stories.

I would say daily life and storytelling inspires me the most.

For my personal projects I always use myself for inspiration: a bad moment, a certain situation I disliked, mostly negative emotions I’ve felt over the years. I would paint self portraits, not necessarily realistic, but to express what I felt in that moment and use it as a healing process.

Now I create more realistic looking pencil drawings, filled with certain emotions I have felt at some point. I find objects, human figures, animal, flowers, plants or anything that symbolises what I feel in the moment or relate to in some way.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of?

I like to challenge myself with things I’ve never drawn before, this is what keeps tattooing exciting for me.

I’m feeling a bit experimental lately with human figures. I find I’m attracted to them every time I create. I find mythology from any culture exciting. Mostly mythological creatures, as I think these are very hard to capture. I’m learning to make them look real without losing the magical or ethereal look of them.

Can you tell us about your latest project?

The ‘pay as you feel campaign’ is a free service for those who’ve had mastectomies – if there is any exchange of money – but there doesn’t have to be – it will go to charity. I would love to tattoo more over scars and I’d love to help anyone who has had a mastectomy or top surgery.

The idea is to convert scars into something pretty; in other words, to transform a difficult experience into something beautiful.

I want to combine my profession with a social cause, as well as positively impact lives through my art.

How do you see your tattoos evolving in the future?

I am a very changeable person, I’m always creating and experimenting. I would love to start larger scale pieces, not necessarily bigger tattoos, just covering more of the body. They’d have lots of the delicate detail but would be spacious compositions that work with the body.

Do you think tattoos need to have a meaning or story behind them?

I prefer them to have a story. It helps my creative process so I can conjure up something different and unique every time. But I don’t think this is necessary, tattoos can be funny or for no reason. As long as they make the person happy and don’t offend anyone.

What was your first tattoo? Do you still like it? How has your tattoo collection developed since then?

I got my first tattoo when I was 19, it’s a line-work Converse shoe. I did it myself, in my bedroom. Fine-line tattooing wasn’t a thing until recently, so I had loads of colour traditional and black work tattoos.

I started covering everything two years ago, with a blackout from my left arm going down my back and finishing at my bum… for now. I decided to go for a neotribal bodysuit, as I feel it is a much more elegant and less noisy style.

Where’s been your favourite place to travel and tattoo? Do you have any guest spots planned?

I haven’t had the luck to travel outside the UK with my work yet. But, 2024 is full of guest spots, and I can’t wait – I’ll be travelling all over the UK. I’ll also be going to LA in September, so I will try to work in San Francisco and Mexico. But, nothing is confirmed yet. I’m also planning a full month in Germany, after the US. I am very much looking forward to these guest spots, seeing all these new places and meeting new tattoo artists.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are?

Leeds is a very artistic and youthful city. I feel very lucky to be part of a team with young creatives and talented artists like the Buzz Club family. It is a great city to be an artist, even more so a tattoo artist.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing or drawing?

Emails! Tattooing is a 24/7 job. But when I have the free time, I love to go to the countryside, mostly in the summer, and in the winter, you will find me in any art gallery or exhibition. I find them very inspiring and sometimes I’m lucky enough to meet new artists while I visit their exhibitions.

What moment in your career are you most proud of?

When I moved from Spain to the UK at that young age, it definitely marked a before and after in myself. I kept pushing to become a tattoo artist – even when I wasn’t good enough.

The second was when, with no previous apprenticeship, I started working in a real tattoo studio as a real tattoo artist. All the effort wasn’t for nothing. I finally got into the tattoo industry.

And the last, the moment I learnt that every one of us has a different path, and it’s okay to have a rest when following your dream. It’s hard work, but never give up even if it takes years. You’ll get there if you put effort and care into what you do.

Follow Tina Caruso (@tinacarusodot) on Instagram for more beautiful tattoos. She works at Buzz Club in Leeds.

We’re always talking to amazing tattoo artists, check out our latest interviews.

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“The main inspiration is always the emotions that lie underneath the surface, in their raw form,” interview with surreal tattooist, Poesis

We’re obsessed with the work of tattoo artist Poesis. She’s based in Hamburg, and is a resident artist at HOOD7. The tattoos she creates are magical, with an otherworldliness about them, sometimes you’re not quite sure exactly what you’re looking at – doors that open to other doors, bookcases with birds poking their head out… each of the tattoos Poesis creates is born from an emotion – and you can feel that in each one-of-a-kind tattoo. We caught up with the tattoo artist to find out more about her weird and beautiful work…

Poesis / @poesis_tattoo Poesis / from her video art project ’The  Simultaneousness of Blooming & Withering’

Do you have a first memory of tattoos? What made you fall in love with them? 

This is actually quite funny, my first memory of tattoos  is having a crush on this fully tattooed musician. He was covered head to toe and I thought it was the coolest thing. That’s the first time I fell in love with the aesthetic.  

During my teenage years, I used to hang around alternative kids. A friend asked me to draw a tattoo  design for him, that’s when I first encountered the connection between tattoos and the art world I was so interested in. 

The real moment though – the one that got me completely hooked – was when colourful micro realism tattoos started developing a few years ago. The incredible precision of details, the colours, the strong references to the art I grew up with. It captivated my heart. 

It’s really interesting how moments in our life, that maybe seemed insignificant, become turning points on our journey. We’re always subconsciously moving towards where we’ll eventually end up. 

When did you know you wanted to become a tattoo artist? How did you learn? 

I’d just got my second tattoo from Kozo, it was ‘The Old Guitarist’ by Pablo Picasso. While admiring my new  tattoo and searching for the right artistic medium to dive into, I realised that tattooing is the perfect way to  express all my strengths, do the things I love and live a comfortable life. It’s like all the puzzle pieces came  together.  

Later on, I had the opportunity to learn from Kozo himself. After spending a month by his side, we parted ways and I kept learning on my own, developing the technique, process and designs you see today. 

We love your style so much, how did that evolve? Where do your ideas come from and what  inspires you? 

Thank you! The main inspiration is always the emotions that lie underneath the surface, in their raw form. I focus a lot on the feelings I want to convey in the design. It’s all a matter of embracing who we are and  allowing ourselves to be. In these moments, creativity gets the room it deserves, whatever spills out, I roll  with it. My art is me and I’m my art. As I evolve as a person so does my art. As long as I let my creativity roam free my art will keep evolving.  

Techniques always arrive with time, they stay in your muscle memory, slowly developing as you practice. Creativity, on the other hand, can come in a swing. We just need to learn to open that door in the way that suits each of us. Creativity is one of the most important assets and valuable tools to reflect our minds as artists. Nurture it, learn it, develop it, cherish it, keep it safe, love it.  

Poesis / @poesis_tattoo / from ’The  Simultaneousness of Blooming & Withering’

There’s some incredible photos of you on your Instagram, are they inspired by your work? 

These photos are extensions of a bigger multi-medium project I produced and preformed in, called ’The  Simultaneousness of Blooming & Withering’ [you can watch the video on Instagram]. It’s video art inspired by a flash design I made. Apart from the video art, the project holds the stills photos, flower art and the tattoo itself. 

The idea for this project was born after being eager to extend my art to other mediums and to find another way to share what stands behind my tattoo designs. There was a search for self expression, for a way to show a side of Poesis that’s always strongly integrated into my art. 

I collaborated with my friends, a photography duo (Ofek Avshalom and Rona Bar) and with a flower artist (Danielle Barkat), together we executed the concept based on the design and what stood behind it.  ‘The Simultaneousness of Blooming & Withering’ was featured in Vogue, printed in Iconic Artist Magazine and TattooLife Magazine. This project makes me very proud.

Where do you come up with the motifs that you include in your work? From art, life, customer’s  ideas? How do you know what you’d like to mix together in that unique surreal way? 

The inspiration for the motifs I choose is all around, if we open our eyes and mind we can see it in the  smallest to the biggest of things, but mainly, it’s within ourselves. 

Naturally being attracted to surrealism, dark aesthetics, the unconventional, the dreamy and bizarre, I  subconsciously find myself creating symbolism around these worlds. 

Before each tattoo I meet with my clients and I listen to them. Whatever they feel like bringing up, I welcome with open arms. Through that process, a brainstorm will start to appear, motifs that connect directly and  indirectly will float to the consciousness. When creating a design I usually start with this intuitive approach – scrambling around, channeling into a sketch whatever comes to mind.

Sometimes I don’t know exactly what  I’m going for, I just continue focusing on the emotion and experiences we choose to convey, until the sketch forms into a solid image I’m satisfied with. 

How do you like to work with customers and their ideas? 

I’m always open to hear my client’s ideas, explore and work with whatever comes up. If my clients are being  creative, I like to encourage it. Keeping our mind open to new ideas and concepts is crucial for our  connection with our surroundings and ourselves. 

With that being said, I rarely receive a request for a structured idea. My clients trust my artistic abilities and process to embody the emotions that were brought to the surface. Every piece I make is custom, my art holds two worlds that are coming together for a unique, one of a  kind collaboration. In order to create such tattoos, to hold such a mix of precision and creativity, I require artistic freedom and  flexibility. If the artist doesn’t have the freedom to create, the freedom of expression, what’s left of their artistry? 

What’s next? 

Keep focusing on evolving as a person and as an artist. I hope to expand my artistic universe by diving deeper into inner worlds and minds, finding new ways to embody the soul, develop my creativity and explore other mediums to share my art. 

Follow Poesis on Instagram @poesis_tattoo. Her video art project is called ’The  Simultaneousness of Blooming & Withering’

We’re always talking to amazing tattoo artists, check out our latest interviews.

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“I fell in love with the process of tattooing and that love has been with me all my life,” interview with tattooist Dmitrii Palkin

We sat down to have an in-depth chat with tattoo artist Dmitrii Palkin who tattoos from Mimik Tattoo, in Charlotte, NC.

What first made you fall in love with tattooing? Do you have a very strong first defining memory?

Of course. It was in Russia. I was 10 years old and I saw the movie From Dusk till Dawn for the first time. George Clooney was so cool and he had a big brutal tattoo on his arm. This movie impressed me so much that I couldn’t sleep all night… I became a fan of tattoos after that.

What tattoos are on your own body? How old were you when you got your first? Do they tell a story – or are they more random? Do you still enjoy getting tattooed?

I only have five tattoos on my body… but that’s two arm sleeves, one leg sleeve , and my whole back and chest!

I got my first tattoo done by myself when I was 13 years old. I put together my own machine out of a spoon, guitar string instead of a needle, a ballpoint pen and a motor from a CD player. It was a very bad machine and the result was the same. It was a hieroglyph and I have no idea what it means. But from then on, I fell in love with the process of tattooing and that love has been with me all my life.

How did you become a tattoo artist? Is it a constantly evolving process? 

After graduating from university, I tried my hand at different fields, but I always felt out of place. The love for tattoos is something I’ve always felt.

In one of the hard moments of life, when I lost everything, I decided that this would be the best moment for the dream to become a reality. I gave myself six months to try my hand at being a tattoo artist. It was the best decision of my life. I started learning how to tattoo every day. And this learning doesn’t end even now, seven years later.

How would you describe your style? 

Black and white tattoo, microrealism, fineline.

What inspires you? Do you have any artists you admire?

I am very inspired by Dmitry Troshin, Sergey Murdoc, Sashatattooing, Orge Kalodimas. They are very cool masters, and besides their work I am inspired by the fact that they achieve everything by themselves.

Do you have any guest spots planned? Where and how do customers book in?

Yes, I plan to visit many different states in the US, I want to explore California, Florida, Vegas. To book a session with me, you can use any means of communication. Instagram direct or email Palkin@mimiktattoo.com.

You specialise in covering scars, how did that come about and what do you love about it? 

I once had a situation where my wife badly burned her leg and I lived the recovery journey with her. She was left with scars after the incident and after healing I offered to help her cover them with a tattoo. When I announced on my blog that I was willing to help other women cover their scars as well, I saw huge feedback.

I started getting hundreds of hard tragic stories and pictures of scars sent to me. It was heartbreaking to read them, but I felt compelled to make their lives better. Scars are the heartache of thousands of women.

What’s different about tattooing scarred skin and what should customers think about if they have scars they’d like to tattoo over?

Tattooing over a scar is much more difficult to do than over just a skin. It takes a lot of experience to choose the right design and control the depth of the piercing. In the inexperienced hands of an artist, overlapping a scar will look like mush/a bruise. Not all scars can be resurfaced, sometimes I send clients to a dermatologist for a consultation to get the go-ahead.

We love how open and honest about your past you are on social media, why is that important to you?

Thank you so much! When I talk about my past, I get a lot of feedback from those who are having a hard time right now. And by seeing my journey and what I’ve come to, people see hope for a brighter future. It’s important for me to spread the message, it’s in my recovery programme. It’s also important for me to remind myself where I came from.

You’ve recently moved to the USA, where were you before and what made you make the move? What’s next?

All my life I have lived and worked in Russia and travelled a lot to other countries. America was my childhood dream. And I am happy that I have had this opportunity. America is a great country and I am honoured to work here now and learn  the American  culture!