We have already met her as a gorgeous tattoo model and a collector of ink on her body. Now it’s time to appreciate her as a talented artist at the ‘Calamity Tattoo’ in Edinburgh.
Hi Beth, even if you’ve been tattooing for a few years, would you like to give me an initial assessment of what it’s like on the other side of the fence? Also because you are born as a great lover and collector of tattoos, then you also turn into an appreciated tattoo artist specializing in the NeoTraditional style…
I’ve been tattooing for eight years now, seven out of my apprenticeship, and it still feels completely surreal that I get to call this my job. I’ve loved creating art since I was old enough to hold a pencil and it always felt like the thing I was born to do, it just brought me to life, but I didn’t know what form that would take.
For the longest time I really didn’t think I was cut out to be a tattooer – in reality I’m very shy and a bit of a softie so I didn’t think I was tough enough for the industry, but things have changed so much and now there really is room for everyone. The idea that I get to do the thing that I love the most in the world and that I can give that to someone who it probably means even more to, to carry forever, there just aren’t words for what an honour it is. I know how much my own tattoo journey means to me so I can’t express the gratitude I feel to every single person who has let me be part of theirs.
Your NeoTrad female faces are magnetic, purely artistic and contaminated by many sensations and influences. Do you consider your art 100% pure and you wouldn’t know how to do anything else even if they asked you?
I definitely love doing lady faces more than anything else! I think it comes from being a manga-obsessed teenager who loved creating characters. Of course I’m always open to hearing other ideas, but I don’t feel that I’m as strong doing other things and I’d hate to feel like I wasn’t giving someone the best tattoo possible. Even doing lady faces every day, I try not to do the same thing multiple times because I always want to feel like I’ve I’ve already done the best I can.
What happened to your beloved rabbits within your art? You have them tattooed on you and I guess they symbolize your straight-edge vegan nature. But at the same time, so far you have preferred to focus on NeoTrad female faces, not mixing your private passion with what you expose to the world through your art, right?
Strangely I’ve never actually included animals in my art much, even though they’re truly the greatest loves of my life! There are so many incredible artists who draw such amazing animals, artists like SneakyMitch (IG: @sneakymitch) who I hold in such high regard, that I’ve never felt like I’ve found a style of drawing them that I feel holds up.
I’d rather leave that to the pros and stick to cuddling with my rabbits at home (we have thirteen now!)
Kat Abdy has worked on your skin while among your favorite artists there is Sneaky Mitch (what you just quoted me). Ok, but if you could take the time machine and meet an artist who is equally important to you (in the field of tattoo art but not only) and ask him/her a few questions, who would you focus on and what would ask him/her?
Oh geez, that’s a tough one. I have so many favourite artists that it’s hard to choose! Two of my favourites are Allie Already (IG: @alliealreadytattoo) and Teneile (IG: @teneile_napoli), both in Australia, who I would love to get some work from if only just to watch how they work.
I was also lucky enough to meet Rebecca Blair (IG: @blairillustration) recently, who has always been a huge inspiration for me and is even greater in person. Outside of tattooing I’m always inspired by photography and I had the honour to tattoo one of my favourite photographers, Giulia Grillo aka Petite Doll (IG: @petite.doll), last year. That was quite an out of body moment for me.
Would you like to describe to me your private studio in Edinburgh and also introduce me to your colleagues Daryl Watson and Jamie “El Sapo” Allan?
My studio ‘Calamity Tattoo’ (IG: @calamitytattoo) is one of my favourite places in the world. It’s small and humble but all I ever wanted was a safe space where everyone is welcome, and we can just make tattoos and have a nice day. I’m so lucky to share that space with such amazing artists.
Daryl Watson (IG: @darylwatsontattoo) actually worked at the studio where I did my apprenticeship before I did and it was his work that inspired me to apply there – mind you, he left right after I started so I didn’t meet him until years later, but it feels like such a full circle that he’s now one of my very best friends and regularly guests with us.
And what about El Sapo?
As for Jamie Allan aka El Sapo (IG: @jamieallantattoo), he’s been a big name in the Scottish tattoo scene long before I was ever tattooing and I was absolutely obsessed with his work before we met, and in some twist of fate we ended up falling in love and now we’re engaged! Sometimes I still have moments where I think, “holy sh*t, Jamie Allan is my fiancé!”.
I think Jamie is one of the coolest artists around and I feel very smug that I stole him not only for the studio but also for my life.
Does running a private studio in Edinburgh keep you active and busy when it comes to tattoo conventions and guest spots? Should we come to visit you in Scotland or are you traveling yourself and can you already tell us about some next destinations?
I’m so incredibly lucky to have stayed consistently busy for years now, I actually struggle to open my books because my regular clients just keep asking for more work! That feels like the biggest compliment to my career imaginable. I’m definitely a homebird so I don’t venture out too much but I try to get down to work with my friends in Leeds a couple times a year, and I couldn’t miss the ‘Scottish Tattoo Convention’ every year. Last October me and Jamie (IG: @ jamieallantattoo) were invited to the ‘Calgary Tattoo Convention’ in Canada and it was just so unbelievable that now we’re going to go back regularly from now on.
And your last famous words are… ?
I always think of famous last words as being a bit ironic, so I just think in my case it would be “I really do need to cut down my work days and take some days off.” Never gonna happen, but I keep saying it!
Really do famous last words really exist for you?
I don’t really believe in definites, from the bottom of my heart I believe that you can always change for the better. There’s always room to grow and I never want to get to a point where I feel like I don’t have something to fight towards. Unless that thing is taking more days off, in which case I’m completely hopeless! (laughs)
