Birthdays and big celebration days are easy to remember. There is a strange kind of proximity alert that goes of in my head that will remind me to pop a card in the post in the nick of time. But amidst the washing up, school run and supermarket, the smaller anniversaries get missed and forgotten. A sad little feeling of regret and guilt comes with it. I  am belatedly remembering an anniversary of mine that is very important and close to my heart with this post.

 

Fifteen years ago on the 10th of May 1998, I got my first tattoo. It was one of the best days of my life! I decided on a nearby studio close to where I lived in South London. My friend Doug came with me for hand-holding and moral support. Doug was one of the first heavily tattooed people I'd ever met. Before I actually decided to get tattooed, he patiently answered all of my questions and concerns. Good to have an 'expert' on side :)  It took a while to settle on the design I wanted. I had borrowed a book of Albrecht Durer's woodcuts from the library for some research on an essay. The minute I saw  "Woman clothed with the Sun..." I knew that she was the gal for me. The work was done by a young lady called Michelle Collenette. Two hours later, I was a tattooed lady!

Albrecht Durer

Nobody told me that tattoos were moreish. I hadn't really occurred to me then that I'd ever get another piece done. Well, along came a second piece. This one, red hibiscus, I designed and drew out myself. To this day, it remains the piece that gets the most love.

The first tattoo convention I went to was in Dunstable, Doug again holding my hand. I've not been to many since, but this was a wonderful eye opener. I was amazed by the feeling of 'family' that came with it. It was here that I encountered the man who would tattoo most of my work - Mo Coppoletta . It's amazing how he translated my ideas into poetry on the skin. My sleeves, back piece, chest piece and feet are all by him. He has an incredible talent. I have garnered a huge portion of my tattooed education through working with Mo. The people, tattooists and tattooed, are fascinating for all sorts of different reasons! The gossip is fabulous.... When I first met Mo he was working up in Camden, at Bugs' fabulous studio 'Evil from the Needle' (Yep, some tattoo studios have erm, epic names......). He then moved to Into You, before setting up his own studio 'The Family Business' in 2003. It has to be one of the most exquisite tattoo shops in the world.



Mo Coppoletta

For the most part, my experiences of being a tattooed lady have been wonderfully positive. Because of my ink, I am in the design archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum. People are fascinated by tattoos. It's wonderful to see a barely controlled, child-like curiosity sneaking out when someone is desperate to ask a question, or wants to touch them. I am happy to enlighten.

Back piece in progress

Finished piece in the V&A Calendar

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 Of course, as with everything, there are the nay-sayers, party poopers and ignorant. I remember once at work in the library, being verbally abused by a colleague's father. Ugly. I understand that there are those who may not like tattoos. Don't look. I am not hurting you in any way. The colour of my skin does not affect my ability to do my job. Nor does it impede my ability to raise children, teach, do charity work, fight social injustice, go to the moon..... you get my point.

 

A tattoo day is a happy day. I wake up with a big smile on my face. It's a strange thing to say, but I feel so much more like myself with tattoos than I ever did without them. It's like my skin already knew what it wanted to look like. My 'self' explains itself on the outside. I have so much to tell you about how exciting and beautiful the world is! Happy 15th Anniversary skin! I love you! Here's to many more tattoos! 

 

My latest piece, a pinwheel by the divine Nic Garrod-Smith at Songbird Tattoo