Cat's Tattoos

Tattoos, tattooing... yet another obsession of mine.

I remember as a child, the thrill of colour on my skin, or pen fashioned into swirls and hearts. I remember collecting articles out of magazines about piercings and Tattoos. By 13, I was to begin a life-long love of the heavier side of music. My first gig was to see Pantera, supporting Megadeth!

My first Tat (1997), asmall four leaf clover on my ankle, was to be the beginning of a journey. My clover represented my wishes for the future. I was about to get married. We honeymooned in Ireland. Ifeel a strong connection to the Celtic.

My second Tattoo in 1999, a tribal piece on my upper back, marked the return of my sense of self, after thebirth of my first daughter. Unfortunately, my Clover didnt bring me luck when choosing the next Tattoo Artist. I walked away scarred, with a crooked tat. A symmetrical design bodged and looking old within months.

I redesigned this tattoo in 2000, having to make it bigger to correct the appaling drawing up of this image. Working with an excellent artist in Tattoo Magic, Shirley, Southampton, UK, we managed to save the tat.

Back to the same artist in 2001/2 for a Half tribal sleeve on my upper left arm. This was a design that brought together two differentswirling tribal pieces. One containing balls/cherries/edam cheeses/apples/berries (or however you wanna see it!) and one with what I call devil tails! The result was beautiful. This tattoo brought me so much confidence and reassurance. Seven and a half hours in 3 sittings. This marked one of the biggest things ever to have happened to me... the breakup of my marriage and betrayal of my Husband. From that moment on, I was a different person, on a new path.

In the summer of 2002, I was offered an Apprenticeship in Tattooing. Obviously I jumped at the chance, and juggled being a new single mum, with being where-ever I had to be to do the Apprenticeship. Unfortunately, the Apprenticeship was conditional on my Teacher getting a new studio in my local city. This never happened, and after 3 months, achieving twoTattoos on real live skin (see below),the dream of a lifetime was over. I held onto my Tattoo machine, for years, hoping another chance would come along, but sold it due to having a real thing about stuff going to waste!

In 2003, a friend of mine passed away. Unexpectedly, suddenly, from an epileptic fit. He was a relatively new friend, although his brother and I were close, but this loss was something I had no experience in dealing with. I got the urge, in amongst sadness and pain, to get my next small tattoo. A green interlocking Pentacle on the back of my neck inked in Asgard, Winchester, UK. Something my friend would have greatly approved of. I love this tat, even though I will never be able to see it with my own eyes!

My latest addition (March 2007)is 3 small cherry blossoms, one for each decade, marking my 30th birthday, behind my right ear. Inked in Amsterdam at Sakura Tattoo, by Rosana. Read about this experience here.

November 2007, after cutting my dreads off, I needed something to ease the pain! I chose a labyrinth, as it had been in my mind awhile. This labyrinth is an Indian Labyrinth. which in part represents my Indianheritage.

Jan/Feb 2008.

After finishing the design months ago, I finally got my inner forearm tattooed. I had been debating this tattoo for about 5 years, and this year, I went for it! I now have the start of an amazing sleeve, and an awesome stand alone tattoo for the moment!

Tattoos and Tattooing has been an interest of mine for as long as I can remember.

While at Uni, I researched many aspects of Tattooing, from Egypt to Borneo, Sailors to Prisoners, tribal scarification to self-harm.

Along with Tattooing, I am also inspired by Body Art in all forms, including the temporary.

I see Tattoo's as a form of Art Therapy. The whole process, the feeling that arises within the moment you walk into a studio... It is very healing and empowering. While at Uni, I worte an essay on The Sacrifice of Skin. In this paper, I researched the History of Tattooing, and looked at how different cultures used marking of the skin.

The skin is the outer layer of the Human Body, it has direct contact with the Astral body. It is the largest and fastest growingorgan of the body. Tattoos are pushed through theepidermis (outer layer of skin) into the dermis, where the cells are more stable. An excellent resource on how Tattoo's 'work' can be found here.

My goal is to design custom tattoos and have the skill and ability to ink them onto the skin, in surroundings that calm and inspire. I would like to specialise in Mandala Tattoos and Spiritual tats, incorporating ritual or other spiritual aspects as required by the client. It is my dream to move from paper to skin.

I naturally work in a very symbolic way, drawing from many cultures and backgrounds to find the right symbols. Symbolism plays a huge part in my work and life.