Bespoke Tattoos
About my process.
Tattooing another human is a privilege and a responsibility, and I take it very seriously. My approach to tattooing emphasises the importance of collaborating with the client to create a truly personal design that reflects the wearer and fits beautifully on their body. I strive to ensure that everything from the subjects and composition to the colours used are exactly in keeping with the client’s vision and that the entire process is transparent and flexible. I have 20 years of experience to draw upon so will always offer my professional opinion about what will work best for any given tattoo, but will never dismiss a client’s wishes or concerns.
Every tattoo starts with a conversation, and this is always free. I would prefer that you knew you were making the right choice before making a booking, so if you’re not sure if you want to get tattooed or not you are welcome to book a consultation to discuss things first.
If you’d like to know more, keep scrolling to see my FAQs, or click the button to see my tattoo gallery.
FAQs
These are the most frequently asked questions I receive about the tattoo and booking processes. Please feel free to get in touch if your question isn’t answered here.
Where do you work?
My private studio is located on Goodwood Road in Daw Park and is a warm, comfortable and welcoming space in which to be tattooed. It is completely private – there is no visibility from the street and I don’t share the space with other artists. Entry to the studio is via my husband Shaun’s picture framing shop, though we generally work alternate days so he usually isn’t there (and he minds his own when he is). I enjoy being able to work one-on-one with my clients and being free from the noise and distractions of a busy shop. We can even tailor the tunes to your liking.
I keep various teas and coffee as well as lollies and cold drinks in my kitchen and there are several options nearby for takeaway food if required. I have a small fridge, kettle and microwave for those who’d like to bring their own food and beverages.
There is parking available out the back (we share a staff carpark with the Uniting Church) and easy options for public transport with buses travelling down Goodwood Road to and from the city and taxis always being close by.
How do I make a booking for a tattoo or illustration?
All bookings are arranged via email – please visit my Contact page to send me an email and start a conversation. Many designs can be discussed entirely via email, but some first require a more in-depth consultation so we can discuss the design and any questions you might have; these can be arranged at my studio, by phone or over Zoom. A booking for an illustration or tattoo requires a minimum deposit of $100 which can be paid by cash or direct transfer. In the event that I have drawn your design but you no longer wish to get tattooed the full deposit will be forfeited.
How much do you charge?
My current rate for tattooing is $200 an hour for ongoing work, or I have the option of a full day booking (up to 6 hours tattooing) that is capped at $1000. A quote will be given for smaller pieces to be finished in a single sit, rather than the hourly rate. Payment for the hours tattooed needs to be made on the day; there are several ATMs nearby if you need them, or you can pay by card or direct bank transfer.
What imagery will/won’t you draw?
While I have tattooed a wide range of styles and subject matter over the past 20 years I am most in my element when tattooing subjects from nature, and especially in full colour. This includes scientific illustrations, floral arrangements, posies, fruits and vegetables, native flora and fauna, pet portraits, wildlife, insects, birds and nests, skulls, shells, fish and other marine life, seedpods, feathers and minerals. I also love old book illustrations (especially fairy tales), art nouveau, illuminated manuscripts, Christian imagery and mythological subjects like dragons, though don’t have many chances to tattoo them. I am open to anything I feel I’d be able to do, so if you have an idea that doesn’t fit these categories by all means ask! If I feel it’s not for me I can usually recommend another artist. The only subjects I won’t tattoo are those that are violent or offensive.
Stylistically I generally do all my tattoos with black and/or grey outlines and fairly realistic rendering as can be seen in my folio.
Can I see my tattoo design before the day of my appointment?
I am usually happy to provide a sketch or digital mockup in the days leading up to the appointment, but sometimes this isn’t possible. Some tattoo designs are sketched in full while others are collaged together from smaller drawings, and often parts are modified and free-handed in pen on the day to fit the body better, so a completed sketch isn’t always available for you to look at. For a variety of reasons I don’t generally work on designs weeks beforehand, but rather design them right before I tattoo them. Let me know if seeing the design in advance is important to you and we can discuss your options.
How should I prepare for my tattoo appointment?
I recommend eating and sleeping well before getting tattooed, as well as removing any hair on the area to be tattooed, unless you are happy for me to shave it for you. If you plan to wax it’s best to do that at least a few days prior. For long tattoo sessions you might want to bring bottled water, a sugary snack or a soft drink to keep your blood sugar up (I have some lollies on hand also) and perhaps something to eat. Leaving the studio mid-tattoo to buy food can be a pain, especially if you’re undressed so it’s easier to bring your own food. I have a fridge, microwave and kettle available for you to use as well as various teas and coffee.
Make sure you’re either wearing clothes that allow easy access to the area to be tattooed, or are happy to remove them. Sometimes a cheap garment can be cut up in a way that exposes the tattooed area without requiring you to be naked (like cutting the back out of a t-shirt for a backpiece, or the side out of a pair of leggings). If you will need to remove a significant amount of clothing, say for a back, torso or thigh tattoo, it’s a good idea to bring a clean robe or other coverup garment that you can throw on easily for trips to the loo (which is outside) and to keep warm during breaks. For those getting tattooed on feet or lower legs it’s best to bring clean slippers or flip flops that can be slipped on while walking around but then removed easily while on the tattoo chair.
How do I look after my new tattoo?
Over the past few years I’ve been achieving excellent results healing tattoos with a product called second skin, which is commonly used in hospital settings on injuries like burns. It is designed to allow the wound to heal without drying out, a method commonly known as “wet healing”, and in my experience tattoos healed this way have sharper lines, richer colours and less chance of scabbing or dropping out than tattoos healed with glad wrap or with cream alone.
The dressings are a little like a thin, adhesive glad wrap – they have a backing paper like contact that is removed first, then after application there is another layer of plastic that is peeled off to reveal a very thin and flexible transparent dressing. This dressing won’t slide off or shift under your clothes, is more hygienic as it holds blood and other fluids in, and eliminates the need to be constantly touching and washing your new tattoo, significantly reducing the risk of infection or other healing problems. Once applied the second skin can be left in place for up to a week.
People do occasionally have an allergic reaction to the adhesive, in which case the dressing should be removed, but this will not negatively affect the outcome of the tattoo. With intensive colour work people also find that if applied immediately after completion of the tattoo the dressing fills up with so much ink and fluid that it needs to be removed and replaced with a new one – in this instance a new dressing can be obtained from a chemist and applied with clean hands to a freshly washed and dried tattoo. Some people prefer to use a glad wrap dressing for the first day or two and then apply second skin when the tattoo isn’t leaking so much.
For those who want to see the basic process I documented the healing of a small tattoo on my own ankle using second skin for my Instagram stories so you know what to expect, and have reposted the images here:
The recommendations for tattoo aftercare differ from artist to artist, and from client to client. Personally I find second skin to be the most successful, particularly as I do quite dense work that causes more damage to the skin than some other styles of tattooing. Do what you feel is best for your own body, but please take good care of the work I’ve done as it can’t always be easily fixed if it doesn’t heal well the first time. If you choose not to use second skin for any reason, I recommend the following instead.
- Leave the initial cling-wrap dressing on for at least one hour, or up to four hours.
- Carefully remove the cling-wrap and wash the tattoo with a mild soap and warm water. A hot shower may sting a little at first but is beneficial.
- Pat dry with a clean towel and allow your skin to fully air-dry as much as possible, around 10 or 15 minutes. If it’s too cold to do that a quick blast with a hairdryer on low will dry your tattoo quickly.
- Apply a thin layer of your chosen tattoo aftercare cream with clean hands; I personally recommend a natural product like Inky. Bepanthen Antiseptic cream is also fine and can be purchased at a pharmacy or most supermarkets. Whichever cream you choose, only apply a small amount and if you are ordering off the net make sure it will arrive in time!
- Re-wrap your tattoo in cling-wrap and continue to repeat this cleaning/wrapping procedure for several days. Air your tattoo out if you feel you need to between dressings, but be careful not to get it dirty. If your clothes rub against your tattoo and it isn’t wrapped you will need to re-apply the cream more often.
- Keep your new tattoo out of direct sunlight, saltwater and chlorinated water for at least 10 days. Showering as usual is fine but don’t soak your new tattoo in the bath until it has healed.
- Your tattoo will start to peel within a week or so – don’t pick or scratch at it! Your skin will be more or less back to normal within two weeks. You may like to apply moisturiser for a few weeks if your skin is still a little dry and scaly afterwards.