Equal Fashion Magazine Vol 4 | 2016 | Page 58

Equal Fashion Magazine Vol 4-2016 Jamie never had the opportunity to serve an apprenticeship under another tattooist but Martin Jackson of Panther Crew tattoo studio in Wolverhampton, provided guidance with aspects such as health and safety, equipment and technique. This, alongside extensive research, was enough for Jamie to launch himself into his new venture. After spending six months self-teaching and practicing on family and friends. Jamie was offered his first studio position in Eye Candy Tattoos in Willenhall, where he stayed for a year before moving on to Vivid Ink in Sutton where he tattooed for a further two years.It was during this time that Jamie really developed himself as an individual artist in the tattoo world and found his true passion in the area of New Traditional, evading his original thoughts of becoming a predominately black and grey artist. ?I think the main reason is I prefer to draw what is in my head and see that transition to the skin rather than being dictated by reference. I?m able to put my own spin on things by tattooing in the New Traditional style as opposed to realism.? During the two years Jamie spent at Vivid Ink, he found himself dedicated to leading his work down the path of New Traditional before deciding to 58 open his own studio alongside good friend and talented artist, Rich Harris. ?We were so excited to get started that we put an offer in on the first premise we saw and just eight weeks later,Dark Horse Collective was open for business.? Dark Horse Collective initially opened with a four-man team; Jamie, Rich, apprentice Kirsten Pettitt, who has since developed into a full-time artist producing beautiful work and Jamie?s tremendously supportive partner, Emma Regan who manages the studio as well as being the resident Body Piercer and Laser Removal Technician.The team strived to open a relaxed and welcoming studio, a ?studio that focused on the art and treated every client as an individual, a tattoo studio run by artists.? The studio features a large open area, which has separate booths for each of the artists as well as private rooms if the client prefers and also private rooms for piercing and laser treatment. Its important for Dark Horse Collective that their clients feel as comfortable as possible and so they have added extra touches such as having TV?s in each booth,which can be a perfect distraction tool! ?We pride ourselves on being as professional as possible but still