London Tattoo Convention Archives

October 2, 2019

London Tattoo Convention: Street Style

We adore tattoo conventions: everyone united by their passion under one roof, that buzz of tattoo needles and endless inked skin. We love stopping people to have a chat to find out more about their style and what they love about tattoos. Here’s who we chatted to at the London Tattoo Convention…

“This is my first ever tattoo and my first time at a tattoo convention. I went to Borneo for my 60th birthday, and this is to commemorate that trip. My friend had a tattoo done by the artist, and I loved it and I knew my first tattoo had to be done by the same artist, their work is just so different. I love my orangutan, it is even better than I imagined! And it didn’t take long, six hours in just two sessions. The artist is LA based artist, so I got it finished here today.” Tracey Judge

Tattoo by @ivanatattooart

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Bio chemist, from United States
“My back piece took one year to complete, in around 11 sessions, and I sat for about ten hours each time. I am filling a space on my arm today, at London Tattoo Convention. Last week I was in Germany for another convention with Russ (the artist) to show off his work. I’m a scientist, I’m trying to progress my career right now and would rather not have my name online. I do not want to be weaponised for my tattoos, in my field of work, not until I am high up enough to hire or fire the people who would use my tattoo against me – I won’t reveal my tattoos until I am in the postion of power. My job involves designing vaccines, and running grad schemes, it’s really full-on, like my life has been lately. Getting tattooed, the whole process of it and enduring pain, is my way of coping with stress. It helps me to navigate through my trauma, like a rite of passage through the years of marriage and school, and recovery. I am owning that!”

Tattoo by @russabbott

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“I am a friend of Rose Hardy, and am helping her at the convention this weekend. When I’m not helping Rose, I am a master stylist and educator at ARROJO in New York. I love my hand tattoos, the details that Rose put into them too.”
@tinachacha

Neck and hand tattoos by Rose Hardy

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@adelebrydges and @noyau_noyau
Adele creates gorgeous erotic objects in her London studio, and this year is her first time exhibiting at the convention. Her heart tattoo was done by CJ at East Side Ink in New York.

“As a leather worker, I take take photos of hands all the time, I work with my hands. My Instagram is filled with hands, hands holding my pieces and and tools. I want to cover myself in hand tattoos – I just want to be touched and touch everything.” @noyau_noyau
Hand tattoos by @jenzietattoo

It has been another wonderful year at the London Tattoo Convention, see you at the next one.

September 25, 2019

OUR PICK OF THE ARTISTS TO WATCH OUT FOR AT LONDON TATTOO CONVENTION 2019…

Here at Things&Ink, tattoo conventions are our favourite place to be – it’s like being in a tattoo bubble, all under one roof, united by our passion! And we can spend hours searching for tattoo artists, and looking at their back catalogue of work. So we’ve compiled this round-up of some of our favourite artists who are attending the London Tattoo Convention this year. It’s such an amazing chance to meet the tattoo artists from all over the UK and across the globe who we have been coveting work from and liking on Instagram – the convention is our chance to see their work in the flesh, in all its inky glory, and maybe even get a piece for ourselves…

Artists chosen by T&I editors Alice Snape and Rosalie H urr.

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@aimeecornwelltattoo
“I adore Aimée Cornwell’s tattoos, a style she calls ‘Fantasia’, they are like works of art on skin. She is on my dream list of artists I would one day like to collect work from.” Alice

@abell.tattoo
“I love Ashleigh Bell’s warm colour palette, which screams autumn, and her bold solid lines. The way this flower fits the space and works with the body is glorious.” Rosalie.

@dashuai_ma
“Dashuai creates beautifully ornate and detailed pieces which glow with mystery and luxury. There is so much emotion and power within the expressions of the tattoo subjects and the colours are to die for.” Rosalie.

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@guendouglas
“Guen Douglas works at Taiko in Berlin and she is one of the first tattoo artists I fell in love with. She tattoos the most exquisite faces and is also queen of the cover-up.” Alice

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@deboracherrys
“Debora is known for her female faces which often have hauntingly blank stares inspired by the horror genre. However she also extends her repertoire to animals including snakes, and other mythical influenced objects like the hand pictured.” Rosalie.

@jentonic
“The master of combining the female form with fauna. I love the subdued ochres, the curling leaves and how her pieces are often displayed on chests and in between breasts. Just stunning.” Rosalie.

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@liviatsang
“Livia Tsang works in Toronto, Canada, so I have never had the chance to meet her. But her work is just so beautiful. I don’t yet have a watercolour style tattoo, but Livia makes me want to get one – I think they look gorgeous next to more bold, traditional work, I like the contrast of styles.” Alice

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@ninmesarra
“Lorena Morato has been on my inspirational female tattoo artist list for years. Her tattoos always blow me away, I love her rich yet muted tones, the florals she choices and how she takes her inspiration from ancient mythologies.” Rosalie.

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@lydiamadriid
“If you’re looking for beautiful women and outstanding blackwork, Lydia is your artist. Her compositions with the wisps of hair, oh-so painful white highlights that pop, and the adorable freckles, make her women irresistible.” Rosalie.

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@saraosacorazon.art
“Sara Rosa takes illustrative style to the next level with her tattoos. Using shading, dots and lines to add dimension and depth, her pieces come together in a triumphant tableaux – glorious!” Rosalie.

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@makkalarosetattoos
“Urgh just look at this face! I could spend hours stalking Makkala Rose’s Instragram. I mean, just wow!” Alice

The London Tattoo Convention opens this Friday until Sunday at Tobacco Dock in London, you can get tickets from thelondontattooconvention.com. Who are you most excited about meeting?

September 24, 2016September 24, 2016

Tattoo Journeys – Portraits from London Tattoo Convention

Portraits from London Tattoo Convention 2015 byHeather Shuker Photography

A snapshot of people who attended the infamous London Tattoo Convention 2016 including artists, the general public, organisers, performers and more. As they posed, they were interviewed by Alice Snape and Keely Reichardt.

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Sonja Punktum, 38, tattoo artist, Hamburg
“I’m not an angry person, but people who aren’t tattooed see rebellion, so are sometimes scared. People often comment on my tattoos, even if I don’t ask for it. Tattoos make people react, but I think that is because they are intense, they are created through pain and last forever, there is nothing else like it.”

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Arrienette Ashman, 26, tattoo artist, Bournemouth
“I was 19 when I got my first tattoo, I went big straight away, as I always knew wanted to be heavily tattooed. My mum picked me up after the appointment and was shocked, but she has learnt to love them over the years. I love the thought of having art on me always. It is not just physical – it is a spiritual process.”

Ashley Green, 27, sports coach, Harrow
“I was drunk when I got my first tattoo at 16, it was a Chinese symbol. All my other tattoos are now family related, including a portrait of my mum.”

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George Crew, 21, tattoo artist, Leicester
“I was 16 when I got my first tattoos, it was a rose on my stomach. I got it because everyone around me was getting tattooed. If I could go back, I would think about it more and get something of better quality. I am saving my back, though, as a backpiece is the most important tattoo you will ever get, as it is the biggest canvas.”

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Monami Frost, 21, model/blogger/social media, Liverpool
“I cannot imagine my life without tattoos. Getting tattooed, for me, is a never-ending process. They are part of who I am. I think they are beautiful and they make me feel more full.”

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Ermine Hunte, 37, buyer for an airline, Luton
“Tattoos and piercings are so empowering and can change who you are as a person. I have gained more confidence as they have covered scars from a kidney transplant. I am constantly evolving and gaining control over my body.”

September 15, 2015

Miniature Ink II promo video

ATOMICA GALLERY AND THINGS&INK MAGAZINE PRESENT:
‘MINIATURE INK II’
OPENING NIGHT WEDNESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER 2015

Miniature Ink II – Coming Soon from Papercut Pictures on Vimeo.

Atomica Gallery and Things&Ink are delighted to announce Miniature Ink II, a group exhibition celebrating contemporary tattoo artistry, featuring miniature original artworks from over 100 of the world’s leading tattoo artists. Opening at a secret location on Wednesday 23rd September to coincide with the London Tattoo Convention 2015, Miniature Ink II is also being held to raise awareness for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, with profits from sales being donated to the charity.

Miniature Ink II follows the overwhelming success of 2014’s inaugural Miniature Ink, in which leading tattoo artists contributed postcard-sized original artworks to the international group exhibition. For the exhibition’s second edition, Atomica and Things&Ink have introduced a twist. Rather than using paper as their canvas, this year each of the contributing artists have been asked decorate an iconic object within the tattoo community: a kewpie doll..

Join our Facebook event for updates. Opening on Wednesday 23 September in London, rum cocktails will be provided by Sailor Jerry.

Photos by James Stittle

August 31, 2015

The Art of Chris Guest

Chris Guest is 36-year-old painter living in London, he creates large-scale oil paintings featuring tattooed people. We chatted to Chris to find out more about his style of work, the people he has painted and the workshops he runs…

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Do you have a background in art? I studied illustration at Bournemouth University, and at Brunel College in Bristol.

How did you learn to paint? Other than studying illustration at uni, I’m an avid reader of art technique books, plus I do a lot of life drawing (although this isn’t painting, it does help you see things properly). With painting, you just have to practice like mad, that’s the only way to get any good – nobody picks up a paint brush for the first time and paints the Mona Lisa – you have to put the time in to develop your skills. When I first picked up oils, my paintings were awful! I also think it’s very important to constantly learn from your mistakes, I always try to think of ways that I could’ve made my work better.

What medium do you use? Mostly oil, although I do draw with pencil and charcoal a lot as well. Oil feels so nice to work with and is so forgiving, once you know how to use it properly. I love the history of oil, and the fact that it hasn’t really changed much in hundreds of years (pigment mixed with safflower oil). Despite all these acrylic paints you can buy, they still can’t make anything better and they’re nowhere near as nice to use. I like the idea of producing some watercolours in the not so distant future too.

Can you tell us about the exhibitions you are involved in? I will be exhibiting some pieces at this year’s London Tattoo Convention, so please check it out if you’re coming! Seeing art framed and well lit in real life is so much better than on a computer screen, as you really get to see all the brush strokes, and the scale of the work, and get an idea of what the artist was trying to convey. As well as originals, I shall also have prints available.

How would you describe your style? The way I paint is quite classic in style and technique, similar to 18th century painting, but a modern subject matter, painting tattooed people. Obviously my work is quite realist, but you only need to get within a metre of it to see its quite brushy up close!

Who have you painted? Several tattooed models, probably the most well known being Cervena Fox. I’ve worked with Cervena on numerous occasions now, and feel we’ve built up a good working relationship. When we talk about what I’m looking to achieve for my next body of work, I always find Cervena gets my ideas, and really helps them come to life. When you’ve built a good working relationship and your models know you, you’re both a lot more relaxed, and it feels more like friends hanging out, rather than a work thing.

Do you paint from photographs or real life? Both actually – there’s nothing better than painting from life, and I always find the results are more pleasing, plus its more fun. Although sometimes you don’t have the luxury of having someone sit for a four hour session, or if you’re looking to paint someone outside in a street, for example, you have to work from photos.

How long do the paintings take? Sometimes paintings just seem to work, and they feel finished and complete after a few hours. Other pieces sit in my studio for months and then get revisited, so it’s really hard to put a time scale on it. Also, due to the nature of oil paint, you have to leave a layer to dry for a few weeks before you can paint over it, so if you’re impatient, its probably better to try something else!

Do you do commissions? Of course – best thing to do is drop me an email at mrguest@hotmail.co.uk to discuss your ideas!

Where can people buy your art? I have prints and art cards available on my website store. If it’s originals you’re after, best thing is to email me for availability, prices etc. I’ll have originals for sale at the London Tattoo Convention. I also put my work in several group shows in galleries every year, a lot of them happen to be in the US though!

Can you tell us about the workshops you do? I currently teach a ‘painting a head from reference’ workshop, in several tattoo studios, mainly in London, and a few around the UK. It’s a great way to learn some basic techniques, as I go through colour, materials, values, stuff like that, to help you achieve good results with your painting. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up a paint brush in your life, or you’re the next Rembrandt, it’s more about taking part, having fun and producing your own painting. If you’d like to attend or perhaps host your own workshop, best thing to do is drop me an email at mrguest@hotmail.co.uk for more information.