NORWICH BODY ART FESTIVAL 2015 ARTISTS
CHRIS HANKS
Tattoo Art Bury St Edmunds
How did you start off tattooing? Being a keen drawer of wildlife since I could hold a pencil, I first got interested in tattooing at 13 years old. I was the kid behind the bike sheds at school with a pot of ink and a needle! I wouldn’t recommend that now, but 36 years ago that was the only option. At 17 I had saved enough money to buy proper equipment, and I am mostly self taught as no other tattooists were willing to help at that time, though I did have a summer spot in a studio in Brighton. By 19 I got my first shop, and at 25 I moved to Bury St Edmunds which is where I opened Tattoo Art in 1991. What particular style of tattoo do you most like? I wouldn’t say I have a particular style, I just enjoy tattooing, though if I had to choose it would be wildlife all day everyday. Who inspires you as a tattoo artist? After 30 odd years of professional tattooing I am still keen and try to improve my work. Over recent years I have been inspired by the great artists that work in my shop now, Will Creswell, Darren Ditton, William Sparling, Aaron Clapham and Billy Richards What tattoos do you have yourself? My own tattoos and sleeves are mostly old ‘80’s eagles and panthers.I do still have a new one every few years now, which is usually for an event or milestone in my life. Are you looking forward to coming to Norwich for the Body Art Festival? I am really looking forward to NBAF! I haven’t been to a convention for a number of years now so will be good to catch up with some old friends and to support my most local show.
tattooart.org
“I wouldn’t say I have a particular style, I just enjoy tattooing, though if I had to choose it would be wildlife all day every day. “
EMMA SAILOR
Factotum Body Modification Norwich
What’s the Norwich tattoo scene like at the moment? I think the Norwich scene is very strong at the moment, with a lot of really good artists working in strong styles. I think its essential to have such a strong selection in artists now as it give clients a good choice and the ability to find the right tattooist for the job. Tattooing has changed so much in the last decade and Norwich seems to be as good as any other larger city at keeping up with the times. I think that as Norwich is quite an eclectic city with a good music, art and graffiti scene it makes perfect sense for it to have so many artistic and talented tattooists within it. How has your style progressed since you began tattooing? When I started learning to tattoo initially around ten years ago it was very different as there wasn't the freedom to do as much custom work if you weren’t a big name tattooist. I worked in a flash based street shop and my style consisted of copying off of flash sheets. Nowadays I have the freedom to put a lot more into much of my work, and clients are perceptive to input and suggestion. I tend to apply more of my ideas &concepts from my background in illustration & design now, but I also work closely with clients to give them what they want. Which other tattoo artists do you admire? I love Nomi Chi's work, I could look at Lea Nahon's illustrative stuff all day and my biggest tattoo crush is Peter Aurisch. My personal taste in art is more towards abstraction and illustrative line work. What the best tattoo you’ve ever done? Hard question! I think every few months you do a tattoo you really love that takes the place of the previous “best” tattoo you have done. I think one of my favourite ones is a dream catcher piece that was custom for my client, who had perfect skin and it healed perfectly. Ten this year someone in America copied it without asking and made a terrible job of it but I think it adds to the story. I think I am fondest of that one the most at the moment! What’s the best thing about the Norwich Body Art Festival? I think its good to have so many great tattooists in one place, and the fact it is accessible for visitors that may not get to go to a tattoo convention otherwise. I get to meet lots of new people and chat to people who might not know a thing about tattoos and have just come in off the street. Its also good as it keeps Norwich on the 'tattoo map' and shows that Norwich isn’t just a one horse backwater city!
facebook.com/factotumbodymodification
NORWICHBODYARTFESTIVAL.CO.UK
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