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“We welcome discussions and opposing opinions, we don’t do ‘cancel culture’ or belittling,” interview with tattoo artists Gemma & Tara Horrors

Gemma and Tara Horrors (yep that’s their legal surname) met 13 years ago and fell in love – with each other and tattooing. They’ve been on quite the journey together, opening up two studios in Darlington, UK, and fighting sexist and outdated attitudes in the industry. Here they tell us all about their studios and what it’s really like to be married and work together…

Tara and Gemma

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist?

Gemma (@gemmahorrorstattoo): My favourite bands as a teenager were all heavily tattooed. I was a typical punk kid, as soon as I was old enough to get tattooed, I did. But I never thought I could be a tattoo artist until TV shows with female tattooers started airing. It was the coolest thing and the ultimate rebellion. I was working on the bank as a health care assistant alongside studying for my adult nursing degree, when I decided to become a tattoo artist.

Tara (@tarahorrorstattoo): I’d started getting tattooed at 15, in a studio next to the takeaway I worked in. I’m guessing the long hours and late-night shifts helped convince the studio owners that I was 18.

It wasn’t until I met Gemma that the idea of becoming a tattoo artist even occurred to me. Between my first tattoo in 1999 and meeting Gemma in 2011, the shift in the tattooing world was monumental, especially with shows like Miami and LA Ink.

I’ve always loved tattoos, getting tattooed and even the smell and feel of being in a studio. But before this new wave, the life of a tattoo artist didn’t look appealing. I changed careers a lot. I was a Prison Officer for three years and heading towards a career change when the idea of being a tattoo artist had become not only appealing, but plausible.

Chicago inspired clown girl by Gemma Horrors
Blackout coverup of lower leg with knee Mandala by Tara Horrors. Completed in 2 consecutive day sittings

Is there a moment you fell in love with tattoos?

Gemma: It was feeling so much more confident in my own skin. Tattoos have that ability to turn your insecurities into confidence.

Tara: Not one specific moment but rather a period of a few weeks, where I suddenly became obsessed and consumed entirely by tattooing and tattoos. This was just after I’d tattooed myself for the very first time. It wasn’t until I held the tattoo machine and began creating myself that I became enthralled.

Blackout half sleeves, no coverups. Left arm fresh, right arm 2 years healed by Tara Horrors.

You have two studios, we want to know all about them, what’s the vibe?

Gemma: We created our studios to be complete opposites, so customers and artists have a choice.

House Of Horrors Tattoo Company (@houseofhorrorstattoocompany)

  • Appointment only
  • All-female studio
  • The aesthetic is sophisticated Victorian-esque, industrial with a touch of steampunk
  • The vibe is relaxed and professional

EightySixx

  • A modern walk-in street shop
  • Customers can call within the shop’s opening hours and get tattooed with a minimal wait
  • The vibe can change daily depending on the customers, the tattoos, the different artists and desk staff
  • It’s fun, energetic, open, friendly and inviting
At the back of the private studio Tara and Gemma have their side by side work stations. Gemma tattoos at the front and Tara at the back. All decor, including resin worktops was built by Tara.

You own a mixed gender studio and a female-only one, why is that so important?

Gemma: Some customers feel more comfortable being tattooed by and being in the company of females. There’s many reasons for this. I personally love working alongside the women in our studio, there’s nothing quite like it. The support and motivation we provide each other is something we all treasure. We have each other’s backs no matter what.

On the other hand, we have all worked with men in the past and do enjoy that too. I love having the guys as part of our team and I wouldn’t change that – they are a crucial part of our team and success.

Tara: This may sound controversial, but from personal experience and through observations of others, it is clear that when men and women do work closely together, it is often in a way that reinforces gender roles. Something so simple as looking over at a female colleague when the phone rings, despite everyone being free to answer it. Secondly, and I think this is just a default in men in general, but unfortunately women are still subjected to having opinions forced upon them by the men they work with. This can be regardless of time served or position held and this can sometimes quash a woman’s motivations and inspirations.

A female-only studio can allow women to explore and develop on their own terms. Don’t get me wrong, the newer generations of men are much more aware of these issues and can be understanding at times. This is exactly how the guys we chose to work with are. Still I think there is a little way to go yet.

Back left to right: Gemma, Tara, Katie, Paulo. Front left to right: Lucy, Stephen, Ellanna.

Do you have any red flags to watch out for or advice you’d like to share with clients?

Gemma: One thing I’m very open about is certain buzz words being used that are misleading to clients. A popular one is: ‘safe space’. I feel like this is sometimes used as a selling point but can have a very misleading meaning behind it. A safe space is what each individual deems it to be. For us, a safe space is a place in which you are free to be yourself without fear or judgement. We welcome this in our studios, we welcome discussions and opposing opinions. We don’t do ‘cancel culture’ or belittling because someone may have an opposing view to us.

However, at the same time, we do not tolerate hateful or disrespectful behaviour either. A lot of studios I see advertising themselves as safe spaces have also openly announced that people with certain beliefs, opinions and political views are not welcome in their studios. I have seen this on a few occasions and it’s pretty hypocritical and misleading for a customer.

So, if you see the term ‘safe space’, drop the studio a message and see what they actually mean by that. You might find they genuinely mean you are safe, free to be yourself and free from judgement. Or you could find yourself in a situation where you are only welcome if you fit a specific set of conditions.

Tara: I don’t think it’s necessary to get too bogged down in listing red flags, as people are pretty good at researching online. I’d just say, get your stalker hat on and go for it. Check out Instagram, Facebook pages and websites. Visit multiple studios, or at least check them out thoroughly on Google Earth and through tags on socials. Check out all the artists who work there, their style and vibes etc. Find a studio that seems right for you and trust your instincts. If it’s your first tattoo, ask questions – avoid studios and artists who aren’t willing to answer your questions or put you at ease.

Geometric leg sleeve by Tara Horrors

You opened your shop 12 years ago, and you’re the first women to set up a tattoo shop in your area, what kind of reactions did you get?

Gemma: We had a lot of patronising reactions at the beginning. Most of these reactions came from the fact that we weren’t JUST the only females to set up a shop in the area, we were the first tattoo artists in around 20 years to have the balls to open a studio in the area. There was only ever one other successful studio in Darlington.

People constantly devalued everything we achieved, usually men. We encountered males in the industry telling us that they themselves were afraid to do what we were doing. They were even telling us that maybe we should reconsider opening the studio and tattooing at all.

We also had a lot of jealous reactions. Reactions I doubt men would receive if they were to do the exact same thing. I feel like people don’t like to see others doing better than them, especially when that person is a woman.

Sacred Heart tattoo on calf by Gemma Horrors.

Do you still get those reactions now?

Gemma: The reactions have changed since then. It’s been a long road with people wanting us to fail on the way, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We are stubborn and petty as hell. Other people’s doubt just fuels us.

There are about 15 studios in Darlington now, which all opened after we made that first courageous move 12 years ago. Honestly though, we personally love healthy competition, it keeps us sharp and inspires us to grow further. It’s crazy to think that two “girls” that “don’t have a clue” potentially opened the door for all of them.

Do you think representation of women is changing in the tattoo world?

Gemma: It’s definitely changing, without a doubt. Women are producing world-class tattoos and showing how far we can go. We do have more respect than we have had before, but there’s definitely more conversations to be had.

A concern for me is the treatment of younger women coming into the industry. We have women in our studio who have experienced disgusting treatment and I continue to hear similar stories.

Tara: It definitely is changing and for the best part it’s going in the right direction. For women who tattoo now is not the time to be complacent and to take things for granted, it’s time to come together to stand up for each other.

Chicano leg sleeve by Gemma Horrors.

Are there any conversations that still need to be had?

Gemma: I’m not so sure these conversations need to be had amongst the women as much as they do amongst the men. We educate our apprentices about how they should/shouldn’t be treated. This should be a standard procedure of apprenticeships but unfortunately it’s not.

I’ve heard about conversations where multiple guys are talking about another male tattooer being inappropriate with younger females in the industry. The conversation ended with them acknowledging his actions were wrong but how he was “a cool guy though”. As if that makes it acceptable to be a groomer? It’s disturbing.

We all need to be on the same page. There are men who will stand up for women and what is right, but others are dismissing these issues because it just happens to be their “bro”. It isn’t enough to just have women calling out predatory behaviour, we need the men witnessing and dismissing it to condemn the behaviour too.

Tara: Far more than I feel there should have to be. Apparently, a local man, with close associations with a male known sex offender, is all set to help fund and set up an ‘all female tattoo studio’ in our local area. That violates everything an all female studio stands for. As an ex Prison Officer I have spent a lot, quite frankly far too much time in the presence of sex offenders and the thought of them having even the slightest involvement of anything that is so treasured by me is vile.

In fact, I think having any man involved in this way taints the idea of what we have come to believe an all-female studio means. I do really feel that the women in our industry, especially the younger or certainly more impressionable ones, need to have more guidance, protection and support. This can only happen if it is talked about.

Part of the merchandise collection, which will be expanding greatly in 2025.

How did you two meet?

Gemma: We actually met in the small Yorkshire town in 2011 where we both lived, after being introduced by Tara’s younger brother, who was a friend of mine. We had never met before, despite living in the same town at different points in our lives. We like to think that this is more than a coincidence that we met when we did and that it is how it was supposed to be. Then we got married in 2012.

How was it tattooing each other?

Tara: Here’s the thing, I ‘ve never met a tattoo artist who likes being tattooed, in fact everyone I have met absolutely hates it. When you’re being tattooed by the person you love most in the world, it makes that situation just that little bit worse.

Then to top it off, with us both being tattoo artists, we constantly squabble over the tiniest things like the amount of times someone wipes over the tattoo or how hard they are stretching the skin. They say you should never teach your partner to drive, and I would say the same thing about tattooing them. Unfortunately for us, it makes too much sense to tattoo each other, as we love each other’s styles of work and literally tattoo every day side by side.

Gemma.

What’s it really like working with your wife?

Gemma: A rollercoaster, we opened the studio when we had only been together a year. So we learnt a lot about each other as we grew together. There’s challenges to overcome when you are working with your significant other but it’s certainly made our relationship bulletproof.

I am so proud of how we have evolved together and the team we have spent years of trial and error building. We get to laugh all day, talk all day, with each other and other people. All while doing what we love and with our best friends too. Tattooing is a huge part of our marriage and our lives, I will always be grateful for that and will never ever take it for granted.

Tara: Working with Gemma has its upsides, and its downsides. If I’m being honest the ups far outweigh the downs and I see that as a win. Although we are now at a point where we can really enjoy what we do, with only a fraction of those feelings of worry and anxiety that come with owning our own businesses, it certainly didn’t come easy.

Although we can be chalk and cheese on most things, we learned very quickly that communication, trust, loyalty, and respect would play a massive role in where we are today.

You can find out more about House Of Horrors Tattoo Company on their website. Make sure to follow both tattoo artists for more tattoos and booking information.

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“Tattoos leave an imprint on everyone – whether good or bad. I thought this was so interesting, and I guess I got hooked,” interview with tattoo artist Edvin Tedebring

Tattoo artist Edvin Tedebring (@e.tedebring) has been tattooing for seven years and now works at Dropout in Copenhagen. Back when he first started, he thought about giving up, but his wife encouraged him to keep going – and we’re so glad he did. His work is monochrome with a beautiful ethereal quality to it and his tattoos are a collaboration with each tattoo collector. He takes us back on his journey to discover how his style has become what it is today…

When and why did you first fall in love with tattoos?

I honestly think my love for tattoos was always there. I found tattoos fascinating and intriguing – even as a kid. Tattoos seemed to leave an imprint on everyone, whether good or bad. I thought this was so interesting, and I guess I got hooked.

The interest in making it a career probably started out when Miami Ink was popular on TV. My drawings started becoming influenced by tattoo designs I saw. I pretty much made up my mind that I would make this a career, even though my designs were absolutely terrible at the time.

How long have you been tattooing for? What was it like learning?

I have been tattooing for seven years now. When I started out, I did an apprenticeship in the north of Sweden, where I am from. I remember the first time I tattooed synthetic skin, and I came home to my girlfriend, now wife, and told her this is not for me. I thought I was so bad that I would never manage to ever learn, so I’d better just quit immediately. Luckily for me, she pushed me to continue and she has kept on pushing me since the first day in this career. If it was not for her, I don’t think I would be where I am today.

With that said, it was tough in the beginning. I kept developing slowly but steadily and I worked really hard to make this a serious career. I am glad I didn’t give up, even though I considered it several times.

How did you develop your style to what it is today? What draws you to using just one colour?

When I started out I was drawn to gothic and horror themed tattoos. At the time, I thought that was what I wanted to keep doing. But as I progressed, I felt like a copy of a copy, and the horror motives felt so generic and repetitive. I needed to do something different.

I started adding abstract elements such as splatters and sketchy lines to my designs, to make them into something different. This led to me going more and more abstract and away from the gothic styles towards more peaceful and calm motives. That is where I essentially found myself, and that is where I am now. I am still developing ,of course, but I do believe I will be within this realm of style for a long time – if not the rest of my career.

I only use black and grey because I never personally liked colours. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate some great colour work out there, but it was never something I wanted to either make or wear myself. How I think in terms of design is simply monochrome.

Your tattoos have an ethereal artistic quality to them. Do you consider yourself an artist, first and foremost?

It is interesting that you should ask that. I actually consider myself a designer rather than an artist. Before I got into tattooing I did a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media Production; where graphic design, UX / UI design, communication and photography were some of my favorite focuses.

With that in mind, I make great use of my eye for design and knowledge from my education in my tattoo work. I combine my graphic design skills and abstract artistic side to create my work. I don’t have any training in fine arts or such, and therefore I just consider myself a designer and a tattoo artist.

How do you usually work with customers? Is the process a collaboration?

All my work is custom, based on the communication with my collectors. Normally we will exchange ideas and thoughts and then I will make my design and present it to them on the day we meet for the session. Sometimes I draw the design freely on the skin, in which case I first sit down with my collector looking at inspiration from my previous work, to get an idea of what they want.

I sometimes make design concepts I want to do and post them as available, but I do that less and less now, as I prefer custom work.

Do you love to travel? Where have you been and where’s next?

I do love to travel, yes. Part of why I like this career is due to the travelling and the opportunities that it creates. My next trip will be to London, where I have been many times before. I enjoy that city a lot.

Which artists do you admire and why?

I like a lot of different artists, both within tattooing and other forms. I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of fantastic tattoo artists over the years, and they each leave something that I take with me. Whether technical skill, entrepreneurial skill or anything else. I admire any artists who stay true to themselves and their vision.

Are you planning any guest spots? If so where and how do we book in?

This year I did a lot of guest spots and the last one will be London in November. I will be guesting at EXP Haus / 10a Collective. Then I will go to Berlin in January. It’s all booked up already, but normally I take requests through my website etedebring.com.

What are your hopes for the future?

I always have a lot of big hopes and plans for my own journey, but I keep them quiet until I’ve made progress worth sharing.

As for the tattoo world, I hope we all can embrace the new era of tattooing and stop with the gatekeeping and negative attitudes. Tattooing is part of the creator economy, and everyone has to adapt if they want to remain in the game. That means working as an entrepreneur and an artist. The tattoo industry has never been better, in my opinion. It holds endless opportunities for the ones who are willing and hungry.

Make sure to follow Edvin (@e.tedebring) on Instagram and check out his website for more tattoos and to book yours.

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

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“Blackout is definitely a different experience than a ‘normal’ tattoo, it’s no breaks and solid tattooing and saturation. Even people who are heavily tattooed are surprised how different it is,” interview with tattoo artist Teej

From his hometown of Leeds to studying in Sheffield then down to London, where he apprenticed under Henry Hate at Prick Tattoo, tattoo artist Teej’s style of heavy black work has been an evolution on this journey. The next stop took him to Sweden and then the USA, where he now works out of Black Vulture Gallery in Philadelphia. Here he shares details about his traditional apprenticeship, what it’s really like to get solid blackwork, his life over in the USA – and what’s next…

When did you first fall in love with tattoos?

I guess it all started at an early age with the music I listened to and the posters on my walls were of musicians and skateboarders who were tattooed. The aesthetic of being heavily tattooed was something I wanted. It was a sign of rebellion and taking control of your own body and image.

Once I got my first tattoo at the age of 17, I fell in love even harder and knew it was something that was going to take over my life. I just never expected it to happen and lead me to where it has.

You’ve been tattooing for ten years now, what was it like learning?

I graduated from university in Sheffield with my bachelors degree in Product Design. By the time I finished, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life. I moved down to London and managed to get into an apprenticeship under Henry Hate at Prick Tattoos in Shoreditch. It was a very traditional apprenticeship, I was the first one in and the last one out every day. Henry was my gatekeeper to the life I dreamt of and the way I learnt his knowledge was to prove myself daily. He taught me how to build and assemble machines, needle making, art history from many styles and how they are relevant to tattooing styles, tattoo composition and the body.

I wasn’t allowed to touch a machine for the first six months, and even when I was, it was just line work. That’s the backbone of every tattoo and I had to see how they healed before shading and colouring. All the fundamentals were covered and I’m eternally grateful for the times and knowledge I learned from him and the life it has given me.

Tattoo artist Teej

How did you develop your style to what it is today?

The heavy blackwork I’m known for was never a conscious choice, it just found me organically. Since early on in my career, I’ve always preferred to use just black ink. From traditional to a more fine line sketch/illustrative style, people knew that I used black, so over the years I got asked to do some blackout sleeves. It wasn’t until five years ago that it really took off, I did a blackout sleeve, posted it, got a couple of bookings for more. It just grew from there.

Blackout sleeve by Teej

Can you tell us about blackout tattoos, what’s the process?

The majority of clients that come for blackout tattoos have older tattoos they want to cover. These can range in styles, some with more trauma, some with colour, scarred lines, multiples layers of work where they have tried to cover another tattoo before, some where they have poor blackout work. So every day is a new challenge, to work with the canvas in front of you and try to create a large field of smooth black.

Blackout is definitely a different experience than a ‘normal’ tattoo, it’s no breaks and solid tattooing and saturation. Even people who are heavily tattooed are surprised how different it is. 

How do you usually work with customers?

Most of my customers come for straight blackouts, but I also design concepts. These give customers a view of how I’d like to work on a body part or full body coverage. They are all ideas that can be adjusted and changed accordingly, whether to incorporate coverups or just to change a pattern or texture. Creating them as a realistic concept in photos gives the client the image as a whole and something they can decide if they want on their body.

Roughly how many sessions do they take? Are there any challenges with this technique?

A full arm is two sessions, which is five to eight hours usually, it all depends on how big the arm is and how much to cover area wise. First session, I do wrist to an inch or two above the elbow, always hit the elbow first session as it’s tough skin and usually needs a quick hit the second session. Legs can be four to five sessions for a straight blackout.

Once you start adding in other elements to the design, it can add more time. It’s always hard to give an exact timescale for projects as many different things like pain tolerance or quality of the tattoos being covered can affect the time it takes.

For an arm, I prefer two sessions. It’s much easier to take as a client, but also less of a physical beating on the body to heal. You have to take each session as it comes and adjust and adapt.

What’s the healing like? Any tips for someone wanting a full black tattoo? 

Always listen to the artist who has done the tattoo. Everyone has a slightly different method, mine was developed over time by trying and changing parts of what other blackwork artists did until I found a method that myself and my clients liked and made it as easy as possible.

Have you seen the demand for blackout tattoos growing?

Yeah it’s definitely grown as a style over the last years, the more people are exposed to it via social media, the more they see it as an option. They usually have older work that they are unhappy with or outgrown but sometimes you get people who are getting the heavy blackwork to start, they love it as a style that they want to wear from the beginning.

Flow tattoo work on Hannes

Do you have a favourite tattoo experience or project you’ve worked on? 

The project that always stands out is my client Hannes who I met during the seven years I was tattooing in Sweden. Hannes came to me with no tattoos and wanted me to transform his body with a flowing blackwork style. We got both arms and his torso completed in Sweden before I moved to Philadelphia. I’m looking forward to continuing when I go back and guest there.

What would you like to do more of? 

I guess it would be to do more large-scale concepts that I’ve designed. I love the straight blackouts, but it’s always more fun to incorporate other elements.

You’ve mentioned guesting, are you planning any guest spots? If so where and how do we book in?

Since moving to Philadelphia last summer, I haven’t had the chance to travel for work yet. I’ve been so busy here that there just hasn’t been a window to organise a guest spot. I do need to get over to the west coast of America, San Francisco has been on my list of places to visit for a long time and I will be guesting at Analogue Tattoo Arts Kollective.

Also next year, I want to get back to Sweden for a guest spot. I still have my clients there and some with ongoing projects that I’d love to get more done on.

What took you to the US? And what are your hopes for the future?

I loved to Philly because Hoode offered me a spot in his studio, we had been friends for a couple years and I told him I was interested to move State side – Sweden will always be ‘home’ for me but I wanted to change my environment and settings and give it a go. So when the best black worker in the world offered me a spot in his studio, I had to jump at the opportunity. You progress by working with others and sharing knowledge and technique and that was something I couldn’t get in Sweden. 

In the coming years, I see myself evolving as a tattoo artist by continually pushing the boundaries of my craft and expanding my knowledge of tattooing techniques and design principles. I’m excited to explore and incorporate new styles, and integrate innovative concepts into my work. 

Make sure to follow Teej (@teejtattoo) on Instagram and check out his website for more tattoos and to book yours.

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

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“You probably know that feeling when things start to fall into place. When your path becomes clearer, and everything you’ve done before makes sense,” interview with tattoo artist Evelina Jurković

From a girly, pink studio in a small town called Banská Bystrica in Slovakia (where you can’t order takeaway after 9pm), tattoo artist Evelina Jurković @eweltattoo creates her delicate fine-line tattoos. Here she tells us all about how she brought the style over to her country, her struggles with an eating disorder, the importance of normalising all bodies in tattooing, how freediving changed her life and her mastectomy project…

When did you first fall in love with tattoos?

I don’t have a specific moment. But you probably know that feeling when things start to fall into place. When your path becomes clearer every day, and everything you’ve done before makes sense.

As a child, I grew up in an environment where there were always drawings spread out, unfinished paintings. My mom is an artist; she taught drawing at a school and often prepared for art competitions or worked on projects for theatre, either in her studio or at our kitchen table late into the night. That influences you as a child. I attended art school for both my secondary and higher education, and when I had the opportunity to try tattooing, I thought that maybe this would be my path – at least for now.

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

Learning to tattoo was like learning anything else – completely terrible! I learned to tattoo mostly on my own, without much outside help. I did attend a tattoo course as it’s mandatory in Slovakia if you want to have your own tattooing business one day. But I learnt a very small percentage of the necessary information. When you leave, you have a certificate, but if you plan to work independently, you quickly realise that you know practically nothing. You can’t learn to tattoo in three days. So, in my opinion, such short courses make absolutely no sense.

Learning to tattoo on artificial skin is one thing, but a much bigger challenge is when you start working on real skin and with real people. It’s extremely stressful because any mistake is irreversible, and you also realise that the person will carry it with them for the rest of their life.

I started by tattooing friends, but when I began working in my own studio, I would often dream about the design I was going to tattoo the next day. I’ve been tattooing for over 10 years now, but I still feel a deep respect for my work.

How did you develop your style to what it is today?

I was the first to start tattooing fine-line in Slovakia. I saw many beautiful tattoos on Pinterest and wanted something similar on my own body, but every studio I went to told me it couldn’t be done or that it would have to be thicker. So I started thinking about how it’s possible. So I bought the thinnest needles available on the market and started experimenting with what could be done.

What’s your studio like? What can people expect when they get tattooed there?

My studio is located in central Slovakia in a town called Banská Bystrica. It’s a historic town with a small population, where there’s just one shopping mall and you can’t order food delivery after 9pm!

In my studio, I place a huge emphasis on my client’s privacy — I work alone with the client, I don’t have multiple tattoo artists or chairs in the space. My studio has quite a girly vibe —light colours, pink decorations, scented candles, large bright spaces with high ceilings, and paintings in golden frames on the walls.

Do you have a tattoo experience that stands out in your mind?

I have several. I remember a lady who had pigment spots on her arms and legs and didn’t want to go on vacations because she felt like everyone was staring at her. After getting them tattooed over, she started wearing dresses and swimsuits.

I often have women with eating disorders who get motivational phrases tattooed. It’s always more personal for me because I’ve been struggling with an eating disorder for many years. That’s also why I started talking about the importance of normalising normal bodies — normalising scars, stretch marks, postpartum bodies, bodies that have had children.

If we didn’t censor certain types of bodies and didn’t favour one “perfect” body type according to the current trend, we would live in a much healthier society. We wouldn’t have 13-year-old girls in therapy for anorexia or mothers who refuse to go to the swimming pool because their bodies changed after childbirth. And we wouldn’t have bullying in schools and workplaces, either.

Now for your own tattoos, tell us about them. Do your they help you feel differently about your body?

No. I got my tattoos at a very young age, which was, of course, a mistake. If I could erase my tattoos, most of them would be gone. But I do love the inscriptions on my arms, which I got as an adult, and they have a meaning for me beyond just the visual.

On my left arm, I have the words “focus” and “move.” On my right arm, I have “no limit.” “Focus” because it’s incredibly important in life to focus on one thing if you want to be successful—not to stray, not to skip, not to doubt it. “Move” because if you’re not happy, you need to move. And “move” because if you don’t stay in motion, you won’t grow as a person. “No limit” is a reference to a film of the same name that led me to a sport that completely changed the direction of my life and mindset. Limits don’t exist — only in our minds.

Can you tell us more about the sport that changed your life?

In the beginning, it was definitely running, specifically long-distance running. Running, after a certain point, becomes more about your mindset because you’re battling not just your body but your mind. However, after years, I needed a break.

In 2017, I discovered freediving, a sport that seemed a bit crazy yet beautiful. I accidentally watched the film No Limit. After that, I found my coach, Martin Ruman, and started working on myself. And I couldn’t have done anything better with my life.

What does freediving make you feel like?

It’s very hard to describe or even talk about, and I think every diver would agree. Freediving gives you space to dive deep into yourself, to learn to trust yourself, to be absolutely present, and focus solely on what you’re doing. No one else exists. Nothing else matters. When you go deeper, you’re completely alone. You can only rely on yourself. You can’t panic. You can’t breathe.

At the same time, you face the question of death, which you cannot avoid. You realise that what you’re doing could kill you if you misjudge your abilities or make a mistake. Before every dive, you evaluate how far you can go today and still be able to return, and you understand that how your dive will turn out depends on your mindset. You also realise that your ego is your greatest enemy in this sport. It can put you in danger and, in the worst case, kill you. It’s an amazing sport — you should try it!

How do you usually work with your clients? Do you mostly do custom work or do you create flash, too?

I create designs with clients together in Photoshop. I think good communication, understanding what the person who will wear it for the rest of their life wants, is absolutely the top priority. The person you’re working with is always the top priority—only then comes your artistic vision.

Can you tell us about your latest mastectomy project? How can clients get involved?

Yes, I’d love to. I believe that if you want to live in a better world, not be surrounded by hate and pain, you have to start with yourself. You don’t have to donate millions to charity, but you can start with small gestures and change people, nature, the world for the better in small ways. People who only complain and do nothing to make humanity or their close surroundings better are losers to me. You can donate clothes to charity, you can teach someone a foreign language for free, or as a tattoo artist, you can change someone’s life by covering a scar with a tattoo for free. If we stop believing that someone will help us when we need it, if we stop believing that good people still exist, and if we stop helping others selflessly, we will find ourselves in a very dark place as humanity.

If you’d like a mastectomy tattoo or scar cover up simply email me with your story – ewelofficial@gmail.com.

You love to travel! Where have you been, and where’s next? Have you got any tattoos from your travels?

Next, my husband and I are planning to visit Dahab. I’d like to stay there for at least a month or two, depending on how time and finances allow. I believe that this place is absolutely extraordinary, and I’ll find at least one answer to the life questions I’m currently struggling with. And of course, like for most freedivers, there’s one small attraction there — the Blue Hole. A 100-meter sinkhole just a few meters from the shore.

Are you planning any guest spots? If so, where and how do we book in?

I love guest spots. I’m currently looking for a studio in Bangkok or elsewhere in Asia, but I’m pretty much open to anything. We’re considering moving away from Slovakia and are looking for a place on Earth where we can say, “it feels like home.” I’ve never felt at home anywhere, and I’ve never known exactly where I want to live or where I belong, what culture or country I’m closest to. So I want to give myself time to find the answer to this question. So if you have a studio and want to meet me, don’t hesitate to write.

Make sure to follow Evelina on Instagram for more tattoos and to book yours.

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

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“A tattoo session is an experience, so everything matters: the space, atmosphere, music, attitude, pace…” interview with tattoo artist Sofia Lanbina

Tattoo artist Sofia Lanbina (@betstattoo) based in Munich, Germany, specialises in fineline floral tattoos. We chat to her about her freehand tattoos, her private tattoo studio and her journey into the tattoo world…

What made you fall in love with tattoos?

I remember the first time I thought about getting a tattoo myself, I saw a photo of a girl with a temporary tattoo of roses. I was 15 at the time and I thought, “Omg, one day I want to be covered in flowers like this”, it felt totally unrealistic and I had no idea how my life would turn out but this was probably the moment I fell in love with tattoos and realised how beautiful they can look.

What made you want to become a tattoo artist?

I always loved drawing, when out in nature, I’d sketch different plants and flowers in my notebook – this inspired me the most. And then I just wanted to find a purpose for my drawings and to share them with the world, that’s how I got the thought about becoming a tattoo artist. I obviously loved tattoos, as well, and already have several bigger pieces on myself, so it seemed like a great idea that I couldn’t believe I didn’t come up with earlier.

Can you tell us more about your own tattoo collection?

I’m not covered with tattoos because, since I became a tattoo artist, I also became very thoughtful about what I’m getting. However, I have quite a few larger pieces, I’ve even managed to get a thigh tattoo and then to cover it up with another 20-hour piece. All of my tattoos are flowers, except for a couple of small ones.

How did your style evolve into fineline florals? What do you love about that style?

I’d say I knew what I wanted to do that from the start. As soon as I found fineline tattoos, I thought they’re so fascinating and incredible. It was hard to believe how many details it’s possible to put on skin and how amazingly delicate it can look. And there is a huge range of styles you can tattoo in this technique, from lettering to portraits, ornaments to big florals. That’s what I love about the style.

Talk us through how you work with your customers. Do you draw straight onto their bodies?

I mostly create my tattoos freehand. It means I draw the design right on the skin with a pen without a prepared sketch. Everything starts with discussing the details via email and in person, then I mark placement, size and shape on the skin to get my customer’s approval and, afterwards, I draw the detailed design. At all steps, it’s possible to try different placements and ideas, rearrange objects — only freehand allows this kind of freedom.

Do you have a favourite tattoo experience?

My favourite and most memorable tattoo experience was when I first got a freehand tattoo. It was a floral fineline sleeve that took two full days of work. Back then I was already thinking about starting working freehand myself and after seeing and experiencing how fascinating the process is, I finally decided to start doing it myself. So, those tattoo sessions and the tattoo itself means a lot, it was the beginning of a new chapter for me.

What’s your studio like? And how does it impact the experience of getting tattooed?

My studio is a lovely private space, located in the centre of Munich. It’s very bright with a high ceiling, a lot of natural light and big plants, it has a calming and relaxing atmosphere — that’s exactly what I wanted it to be. I think a tattoo session is an experience, so everything matters: the space, atmosphere, music, attitude, pace, etc.

What’s the tattoo scene like in Munich? Do you tattoo lots of tourists / people who travel to collect work from you?

There are so many great tattoo artists and studios in Munich, all have different styles though.

I do tattoo a lot of locals but at least 50% of my customers are travelling to get a tattoo from me. Some come from the US, some from all around Germany and other European countries.

Are there any myths around fineline tattoos? What are they and what is your retort?

The most common misconception about fineline tattoos is that they get all blurred or faded over time. However, it might only happen if done wrong, so before getting a tattoo, make sure to find an experienced tattoo artist who has healed tattoos in their portfolio. Another tip (that ideally the artist has to explain to you) is to not try to fit a million things into a small tattoo. All the elements and individual lines need space, so a tattoo has to be big enough for them.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope to never stop learning, experimenting and discovering new angles for my art. Some artists with time get either bored of what they do or get stuck without any growth and progress. I think that the key to never experiencing that is to constantly work, change and improve what you do.

Follow Sofia on Instagram for more beautiful fineline tattoos.

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