FAQ

Giclée ( pronounced gee-klay ) art print is a professionally printed reproduction of an original artwork. Partiqular printing process result in a superior quality comparing to digital print. Vividness, sharpness, depth and overall appeal make giclée reproduction the closest option to the original painting. There are four major criteria of an authentic Giclée print: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Resolution - The original artwork should be scanned or photographed at 300 dpi or higher resolution. I personally scan my paintings at 900 dpi - it helps to maintain high quality when printint is larger than original work. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Paper - The paper must be archival quality. Which means its 100% cotton and acid-free. Acid-free paper addresses the problem of preserving artwork for long periods. I use acrchival cotton rag paper that I found to be the closest texture to what I use for original paintings. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Ink - A giclee print is made using archival pigment-based inks. With the correct preservation printed image can be lightfast for up to 200+ years. Giclée print also requaires 8 or more different colours of pigment-based inks ( regular prints use 4 ). It helps to achieve exellent colour acuracy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Equipment - The printer must be a large format ink jet printer. The best results with art prints can be achieved in a studio with relevant professional equipment and never at home.

I live and work in London, UK.

To book an appointment or to get a quote for your tattoo idea please fill in this form. You can also email me directly providing all the essential information ( idea, size, placement & reference images ).

You should be 18 or older to get a tattoo. ID will be requested on the day of your session. We strongly advise not to drink alcohol 24 hours prior to the session and 3 days after. During the primary tattoo healing process ( roughly 2 weeks ) you'll have to avoid work outs, sun exposure, swimming in swimming pools or open water. Please plan ahead. Unfortunately you can't be tattooed if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not advised to get a tattoo if you have keloid prone skin. If you are sick or feel you are getting sick please let me know ASAP so we can reschedule the appointment. Please let us know about any specific medical condition or blood borne virus before making a booking. We respect your privacy and this information is confidential.

Yes. New enquiries are reviewed on a weekly basis. Once you are booked in you will be placed on a waiting list and assigned a date. Unfortunately, I can't advise on waiting times as they are subject to change. However, smaller pieces may be accommodated when time permits. You can keep up to date with my availability on my Instagram page or by submitting this form.

Yes, certain designs such as large projects & cover-ups may require face to face consultation in the studio or over skype/facetime. Due to COVID-19 any consultations will be online only.

Yes, we take a £50 or £100 non-refundable deposit depending on your quote. This can be paid in cash at the studio, via PayPal (£2/£5 fee for PayPal transactions) or via online banking. A deposit is required to secure your booking. The deposit is non-refundable but it does go towards the final payment for your tattoo. If you wish to change your appointment date/time we require at least 48 hours notice or the deposit will be lost and a new one required to re-book. No-shows/last moment cancellations will result in lost deposits.

The minimum charge for a tattoo is £80. Smaller pieces are priced by size, detail and intricacy while bigger pieces are calculated based on an hourly rate of £120. Due to the nature of work and potential changes on the day it is not possible to provide a final price, so you will be quoted a price range within your request.

The majority of my portfolio is highly detailed tattoos in watercolour neo-traditional style. However, I'm now interested in shifting towards more eclectic imagery. See the tattoo flash page for the most recent updates. I do not tattoo in any other styles than those shown on the website.

Yes I do. Some designs may also require adding free-hand elements on the day to make it work better with your anatomy.

The common mistake people do is googling tattoos for idea of their own tattoo. It is narrowing down your vision as you look on a final product. Of course

The best size for a piece always depends on the amount of detail. If you want a detailed image you'd be looking at 12cm and up. Skin has its own special limitations and unfortunately small, highly detailed tattoos lose their finesse over time. Another point to consider is that a tattoo should work perfectly with your anatomy and flow naturally along your body curves. This means that placement may dictate the size. You can always seek advice from the artist and adjust the design on the day.

I do not copy the work of other artists and I do not repeat my own designs that have already been tattooed* *You're welcome to show those images as a reference for your own idea, but they will be taken as a starting point for creating a new, unique design.

All sexist, racist, homophobic, offensive, vulgar tattoos will be refused. Although I do encourage and offer cover-ups of these.

All skin types are welcome. It is entirely possible to adjust any design to any skin type, including colour tattoos. Please contact me and we can discuss what will work out the best for you.

Yes, I do cover-ups, although each case is treated individually. You will be required to send photos of the tattoo you want to cover. Note that new design should be larger in size, to seamlessly cover up your old tattoo.

Yes, although the scar should be flat and fully healed ( white coloured tissue ). If the scar is red, it's safer to wait until it's completely healed. Same applies to stretch marks. Birth marks need to be reviewed individually with each client.

No. Although I do full cover-ups and blast overs.

No. There's no relevant research that proves UV pigments are safe to tattoo with.

Smaller designs are ready to view during your appointment. You will be able to discuss and make desired changes before it is tattooed. Larger pieces are available to see a day prior to your appointment. An in person discussion on the day is proven to be the best way of advising the client and making any necessary adjustments. Make sure you're aware of the artist's drawing style - it represents exactly what you'll get in your design!

Do not drink alcohol or take any drugs. Alcohol thins your blood and affects the tattoo and healing process. You will be refused and lose your deposit if you arrive in a state of intoxication. Have a good night's sleep. Take a shower and gently scrub the area to exfoliate dead skin cells and smoothen the skin. There is no need to shave the area in advance. Don't put any oils, creams or butters on the area on the day of the appointment. Don't use perfume. Consider what clothing you will wear during the session. Zip-up hoodies are great to wear backwards for back-pieces. For leg and thigh tattoos bring loose fitting shorts/ joggers. Strapless tops work great for chest, arms and upper back pieces. Black or dark coloured clothing is also sensible due to the risk of staining. Eat a substantial meal before getting a tattoo. Bring some drinks (non-alcoholic! ) and snacks with you. Get aftercare products in advance and bring them along on the day. We advise Bepanthen cream. For larger tattoos avoid making plans for later in the day as you may need to have a proper rest.

Getting a tattoo hurts. How bad depends on the individual's pain threshold as it is different for everyone. Most people compare the sensation of getting a tattoo to a cat scratch. It is rarely a big deal for short sessions, but during longer ( 6-10 hours ) sessions sensation and tiredness build up and can become unbearable. I don't use numbing creams as they only work for a short period of time, can cause serious irritations and allergies ( up to severe anaphylaxis ) and alter the skin texture. Most pain killers thin the blood, although throughout my practice I found that Ibuprofen helps better, faster healing afterwards due to its anti-inflammatory qualities. There are some tips on how to deal with pain during the session: Stay relaxed and try to breathe deeply and evenly ( don't hold your breath ). A good way to switch your attention from the pain is to bring something to watch/listen/read. If you think that pain may be a concern for you, I advise you to research tattoo pain maps and charts so that you can select placement accordingly.

All suplies and equipment used during the tattoo session is either single use or covered with barrier protection and sterilized in the autoclave. Needles will be unpacked and installed in front of you. The tattoo chair is thoroughly cleaned with an antibacterial solution before and after each use. Single use disposable gloves are worn at all times. If you have an allergy, please inform in advance. Red ink ( and red based pigments ) may cause allergic reactions, however it's very rare.

The artist will go over this with you in detail after your appointment. You can download a digital aftercare guide here.

Please read carefully and follow this advice for easy, quick and problem-free healing. Visible healing lasts for about 2 weeks with full healing taking up to a few months. The first weeks are the most crucial. This is what you should avoid during this time: Do not drink alcohol after you get a tattoo. Any excessive alcohol consumption will result in blurred outlines. Do not scratch or rub the tattoo area even if you really want, even when it peels. Apply Bepanthen, pat or put it under cold water to calm the itchiness. Apply only a thin layer of Bepanthen. Do not expose your tattoo to direct sunlight. Do not swim in pools or open water. Pause any sports activities and stretching. Sweat can ruin your tattoo and stretching may result in breaking the surface of your tattoo. Do not keep your tattoo uncovered if it's not dry and you have pets. Don't let pets rub on or lick your fresh tattoo. Do not use regular fabric towels to dry your tattoo as it may transmit bacteria into the tattoo. Use disposable paper towels until top layer of skin is fully regenerated. Do not put perfume or any spirit-based solutions over the fresh tattoo. Do not use perfumed soaps or cosmetic creams.

If you follow all aftercare directions thoroughly you should have no issues with infection. However, if you do experience any complications then do not hesitate to contact your artist and book an appointment with your GP. In the normal course of your tattoo healing you can expect to initially experience some light bleeding (along with clear liquid plasma) and general soreness. In the following days it is normal for the tattoo to feel itchy and to experience some light forms of swelling, redness and in rare occurrences, bruising. The most important thing to pay attention to is any negative progression in the healing process. So, while your tattoo will initially be tender for a few days any growing or progressing pain should cause concern. Any coloured discharge, blistering, red streaks on the skin and pulsating pain should also be immediately addressed by a medical professional.

It depends on plenty of factors. Generally, tattoos fade slightly over time. How much your tattoo will fade depends on pigments: high quality black as well as rich, bold colours last forever, whereas light, pastel colours can become less visible over time. With proper care, you can minimize fading. When exposed to direct sunlight always apply suncream ( SPF 50 and higher ) to protect your tattoo.