Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I tattoo?
I tattoo at Un1ty Tattoo in Shrewsbury, UK. I used to be based in Birmingham at Modern Body Art for many years and then a private studio.
I sometimes do the odd convention or guest spot. You can sign up for my mailing list here (I promise not to spam you) or check my Instagram and Twitter for more up-to-date info on this kind of thing.
Can you do this tattoo for me?
I hope so! Firstly please check that you really love my work as everything will be in that style. If you have a tattoo by another artist you really like, please read this section below.
I LOVE to tattoo anything organic/natural; birds, animals, flowers, skulls, portraits and faces, or figures. I will work from tiny up to larger scale stuff (sleeves, back pieces etc), and I don’t mind black and grey or colour. I love a cover-up (if it is realistically possible) but not re-works. Primarily I like to do artistically interesting stuff, that fits in with my existing style and will make a good tattoo over the short and long term.
I don’t like to tattoo non-natural/man-made things such as pocket watches, headphones, turntables, compasses, architecture etc as they don’t work very well in my style.
If you want to enquire about a custom tattoo you can fill out the form on the contact page here.
If you really want the secret of how to get a good tattoo then you can read this FAQ here.
How do I get a design done?
I only do designs once someone is booked in with a (non-refundable) deposit. All of my designs will be in the style of my own work which you can look at in my portfolio. I send out low-resolution images about a week before your appointment. I can make small changes to a design but wholesale changes will often mean I am not the right tattooist for you, or in the case of a complete change of mind may require a further deposit.
What if I am not sure what I want?
If you want to get tattooed by me but maybe not yet, or you are not sure what you want, you can sign up to my mailing list where I send out my most recent available designs (very infrequently), and it also includes a link and password to previous unclaimed stuff. You can sign up here. Alternatively, just follow me on IG and check out my highlighted stories.
Can I send you pictures of what I want?
You can but I prefer it if people don’t send too many, and definitely no tattoos by other people. I really want to focus on my own work and style and not get distracted by photos of other tattoos (especially ones not by me), or other reference images. If you must send me someone else’s tattoo, then I cannot stress enough that everything I design and tattoo will be in the style that you can see in my portfolio, I don’t copy other people’s tattoos or artwork. If none of your favourite tattoos are actually by me, then I am probably not the right artist for you. I want my customers to be happy and I want a nice, artistically satisfying and stress-free experience. That all happens by choosing the right artist in the first place.
How booked are you?
I don’t open my diary more than 3 months in advance. For example, on January 1st I would open up March for appointments, then February 1st, I open up April etc. This seems to work ok and I usually have enough spaces for people to get in with me. Usually, I am booked for a few weeks to a month or so, maybe slightly more for Saturdays.
How much do you charge?
Simply put, I am about average for a decent tattooist outside of London.
I do work quite quickly compared to most tattooists – so be aware, not all day sessions or hourly rates are created equally. I don’t drag sessions out to get more work, and I don’t mess around taking lots of breaks to smoke, check my phone or anything else.
Currently, my pricing structure for large work (anything over 3 hours or so) is priced by the hour, often as day sessions. A day session is usually about 5 hours or so, but the price is capped at 5 hours even if it takes a bit longer (which sometimes happens to get a piece or section finished). Anything under 5 hours is at an hourly rate.
For smaller pieces, I try to give a fixed price but it does work out a little more than the hourly rate as setup costs, designing and filling the diary becomes more efficient at the larger scale.
For a more specific answer or a quote please get in touch with me here.
If you wish to see my available designs then you can drop me an email for a link and password, follow me on IG (look at my highlighted stories) or sign up to my mailing list at the bottom of this page to see future stuff first.
Do you charge for drawing/consultations?
Not everything needs a consultation but if it is necessary, there is no charge.
There is no extra charge for doing a design. You will need an appointment confirmed (with a deposit) before I do a design for you and I do all my designs before the day of your appointment. I would never charge extra for a design nor would I do it on the day whilst charging you to sit and watch me.
How do I book in?
The best thing to do is use the contact form here and I will get back to you asap.
You will need to leave a deposit to secure an appointment which is £60 for up to a half-day appointment, or £120 for a full-day session.
You can cancel or change an appointment but you need to give me at least 72 hours notice or you will lose the deposit.
What can I expect at my appointment?
I try and be as professional as possible for you and to give everybody a nice, inclusive experience. I do my best to run on time, I don’t have breaks all the time, I don’t sit with headphones in ignoring you like you are an inconvenience to me, or spend half the day on my phone. I’m more than happy to chat away but I can leave you to it if you prefer silence or headphones. Whatever it takes to give someone a good tattoo and experience.
All my needles are single-use cartridges, everything is wrapped and protected and I follow the best cross-contamination practices to give you a safe experience.
If you are booked for a day session I do take a lunch break – so you can bring some food for yourself or pop and get some – but any time that takes is knocked off what you are charged.
I am more than aware that there are some men in the tattoo industry who have overstepped boundaries with female customers. I don’t do that. Usually, I am tattooing with my partner Frances Anne Faith working alongside me, and loads of my IG posts have comments from female and male customers with the tattoo, feel free to message any of them for a reference.