Laura Ashlee Tattoos voted the best tattoo artist in Central Highlands

“I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face”: Here’s how Laura turned a simple creative passion into a career.

Emerald's Laura Dawson of Laura Ashlee Tattoos was voted the best tattoo artist across the region by CQ News readers in August, 2021.

An Emerald tattoo artist has turned a creative passion into a career, and has been recognised by the community as one of the best in the region.

Laura Dawson, 27, never thought she could make a living from something she did to express herself, but after a decade in the tattoo industry, she launched her own studio with business continually growing.

“For me, when it comes tattoos, a picture speaks a thousand words,” she said.

“If I can help somebody express how they’re feeling, and especially in today’s society, this is my special way of connecting with them.

“If I can take that feeling they’re holding on to and help them wear it almost as their shield of protection on the outside, that’s a gift in itself.”

Mrs Dawson has been drawn to art since she was a child drawing wildflowers on water tanks with her grandma at the family property.

“It’s my way of expressing myself,” she said.

Originally from Gladstone, Mrs Dawson moved to Emerald as a teenager, which was where she first got her start in the industry.

“Mum was getting a tattoo and I was sitting there in the hallway drawing on my notepad killing some time and the artist saw my drawings and asked if [tattooing] was something I’d be interested in doing,” she said.

“He told me to bring in my drawings, gave me a shot and the rest is history.

“I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Emerald's Laura Dawson in her.

She had been serving clients at Emerald for about 10 years, as well as a short stint in Louisiana, before branching out and opening her own business, Laura Ashlee Tattoos, in February this year.

“One of the things that drew me to tattooing is you’re constantly helping people explain how they feel, give them a sense of protection or to express themselves,” Mrs Dawson said.

“It was one more thing I was good at, my way of helping people.

“I love learning and taking in new information so it’s really cool I’m in an industry where I can never really reach that limit. There's always room for improvement.”

In August, Mrs Dawson was voted the best tattoo artist across the Central Highlands and Coalfields by CQ News readers.

She said it was incredible to find out people appreciated her time, effort and skill, reassuring her that going out on her own was the right thing to do.

“When I saw the list of finalists, I knew I was up against some really good artists and it was anyone's choice as to who was going to win,” she said.

“I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face [when I found out I won].

“It’s so warming to know people believe in me because I'm my own worst critic.

“It was just a little bit of reassurance that what I think I’m doing for my clients, that they’re feeling that as well.

“I feel like I'm doing the right thing by them and they’re appreciating everything I can offer them."

Mrs Dawson has plans to further expand the studio to enable her to cater to more clients and eventually bring on a trainee, offering someone else the opportunities she was given.

“I want to expand and take on someone else and mentor them and see if they can surpass me, because to me, that’s what makes a great mentor,” she said.

She also wanted to thank her husband, mum, mentors, clients and supporters for getting her to where she was, because “they’re the ones that make this possible”.