Inside Adelaide’s tattoo industry: Meet SA’s next generation of ink masters
From an artist who ditched an insurance job for the tattoo chair to a woman who did her first tat on her mum, here are 25 apprentices making a mark on the industry.
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An ink master has lifted the lid on the dark side of the tattoo industry, claiming South Australian women have been groped, pressured into sex and left exposed at the hands of artists.
But the next generation of Adelaide tattoo apprentices are making their mark in the competitive industry.
SCROLL DOWN TO MEET 26 UP AND COMING TATTOO ARTISTS
It was the acts she says occurred in certain sections of the industry which made Jaimie Richards determined to provide a safe space for women free from harassment.
“Things that didn’t sit well with me were what inspired me to open my own shop,” she said.
“I saw some characters and some things you wouldn’t want a young girl to see or be exposed to.
“I wanted to create a space (where clients) didn’t need to feel scared or ashamed of their bodies, I wanted them to feel beautiful, safe and walk out feeling even more beautiful and confident.”
After 11 years in the industry, Ms Richards now owns Roxy’s Tattoo, a proudly female-owned studio with bright walls, funky prints and a hot pink disco ball.
She said it was at times difficult in the industry to learn new skills as there can be a reluctance for artists to share the “tricks of the trade”.
“I was pretty lucky but it wasn’t all smooth sailing,” she said
“It was a pretty rough … there was some pretty unsafe, crazy moments.
It is for this reason the Hope Valley woman is proud to uplift the next generation of female artists, including her current apprentices Lara Bassanese, Amara Shillabeer and Yuki.
“It’s extremely rewarding being able to guide the girls in a way that I wasn’t guided and make them feel safe and comfortable,” she said.
“I have had the pleasure of having a few very talented girls work under me who have now
moved on and opened their own shops in Adelaide who are also female run and LGBTQ+ friendly and queer owned.
“We are all here to support each other, it’s not a competition anymore. It makes me so incredibly happy to see others succeed in this industry.
26-year-old Lara Bassanese started her apprenticeship at another studio and said she was “so grateful and lucky” to join the Roxy’s “family” last year.
Now in her fourth year, she is set to finish her apprenticeship in November and hopes to travel the world as a tattoo artist and follow in her mentor’s footsteps.
“I would love to continue tattooing while travelling the world. There are so many tattoo artists
that I would love to be tattooed by and to learn from.
“One day I would love to create a space for all creatives … I feel like it’s my purpose to help others in the same way that Jaimee has helped all of us.
“Now that I have worked a job that I have so much passion and drive for, I can’t see myself ever stopping.”
From insurance to ink: Ditching the office job for the tattoo chair
Name: Taylor, 28
Instagram: @catzudon.tattoo
Studio: Little Harajuku Tattoo Studio, Adelaide
As the self-confessed art kid in high school, Taylor who uses she/her/they/them pronouns has always had a passion for all things bright, colourful and silly.
Known professionally as Catzudon, the 28-year-old tattoo apprentice from Christies Beach has spent the past year bringing her art to life since doing “a complete 180” and ditching her career in the insurance sector.
Working front of house at a tattoo studio, Taylor had “no regrets” about the switch but soon realised she wanted to be in the studio, not stuck behind the desk.
“I liked it but there was just something missing and then I realised it was because I wanted to be what they were and not at the front desk,” she said.
Taylor spent a year working on her portfolio before approaching other studios, landing an apprenticeship in Mount Barker.
“I wanted to do it off of my own merit, I didn’t want to just start at the studio I was front of housing at,” she said.
Now based in the city’s cutest tattoo studio, Little Harajuku, Taylor recently celebrated her first anniversary as an apprentice and has “absolutely no regrets” about following her tattoo dreams.
Regardless of whether it’s a portrait of a beloved pet or a cartoon character, Taylor said tattooing was more than a job but a privilege.
“You’re putting art on someone forever,” she said.
“Even if it’s like the tiniest piece and maybe it’s like an everyday (thing) for you, that’s gonna be a key moment in their lives forever and it’s something I don’t ever want to take for granted.”
Whether its dainty fine line script or a portrait of a pop icon, tattoo artists have the power to transform ideas into pieces of art that last a lifetime.
But doing a great tattoo comes with great responsibility and is a skill refined through years of training.
Meet 24 more of the talented apprentices making their mark on the industry and skin of many South Aussies.
Lara Bassanese
Instagram: @paramnesia.ink
Studio: Roxy’s Tattoo, Hope Valley
Specialising in textures and teeny, tiny details, third-year apprentice Lara Bassanese’s tattoos are often inspired by micro-realism, neo-traditional and fine art styles.
She initially pursued a nursing degree but decided on tattooing after realising her passion for art was much stronger.
“Tattooing made so much sense to me, as an avenue to explore and grow as an artist, being able to help others express themselves, and to provide for myself,” she said.
Set to finish her apprenticeship this November, Ms Bassanese said the best part of the gig was being able to create art “that can help people heal, remember and express who they are”.
“There is nothing more rewarding than having people get my artwork tattooed on them – I am so grateful and lucky to be blessed with both an amazing job and amazing clients.”
Amara Shillabeer
Instagram: @marauwus
Studio: Roxy’s Tattoo, Hope Valley
When it comes to tattooing, Amara Shillabeer is a jack of all trades and loves any style with linework.
The third-year apprentice has always had a passion for drawing and was encouraged to become a tattoo artist by her family.
“I went part time at uni and decided to look for a part time job, I saw an advertisement for a tattoo apprenticeship in the city and I thought, why not?” she said.
She landed the interview and after a month of practising on fake skin, did her first tattoo on her mum.
As a tattoo artist and member of the LGBT+ community, Ms Shillabeer said it was important to make clients feel safe and included while in the chair.
“It’s such a blessing to have people trust me with their tattoos,” she said.
“But it’s so important to make people feel like they can say they don’t like a design, or if they want changes.
“(And to) make sure people feel safe and included as you don’t know what people are going through or feeling, you being kind and understanding can change someone’s day.”
Now approaching the end of her apprenticeship, she hopes to try a range of art styles and is particularly keen to do more anime, abstract and watercolour tattoos.
Avery Andruszkiewicz
Instagram: @mattebat_tatts
Studio: Infinite Worlds Tattoo + Design, Adelaide
For Avery Andruszkiewicz, 28, tattooing chose them more than they chose it.
Based at Adelaide’s very own “geek” tattoo studio, Infinite Worlds Tattoo, Avery’s work is a mix of bold colours and pop culture references.
The second-year-apprentice has always wanted a creative career and began applying for apprenticeships before landing one at the studio last year.
“It’s been wonderful, honestly,” Avery said.
“Challenging at times, sure, but overall, it’s been a wonderful space to grow, and it’s an extremely rewarding line of work.”
Taniesha Rowan
Instagram: @serpentsspit
Studio: Cult Collective Tattoo Studio, Kilburn
Specialising in illustrative and blackwork styles, Taniesha Rowan, 25, has always had a passion for art.
“I remember drawing on my friends in classes in school and making jokes about becoming a tattoo artist,” she said.
It wasn’t until her best friend motivated her to rid herself of the “what-ifs” that she gave it a shot in 2022.
Now two-years into her apprenticeship, Ms Rowan hasn’t looked back and the studio she works in, Cult Collective, has become like a second-home.
“One of my clients literally referred to the studio as ‘it feels like stepping into a second home’ which honestly, is exactly how I feel too,” she said.
“I am excited to one day become a qualified artist, but I know my journey will not end there.
“I would love to do guest spots and be able to travel interstate and internationally, and perhaps even one day open a studio of my own.”
Alyssa Leopold
Instagram: @blyss.tattoo
Studio: Cult Collective Tattoo Studio, Kilburn
Known as Blyss Tattoos, 21-year-old Alyssa Leopold is a second-year apprentice specialising in fine line.
Based at Cult Collective Tattoo Studio, the second-year apprentice predominantly tattoos black and grey work with her favourite styles including fine line, ornamental and cyber/neo-tribal.
Bee Rose
Instagram: @bee_rose_tattoo
Studio: Sashiko Studio, Mount Barker
Bee Rose had always dreamt of becoming a tattoo artist and made this dream a reality two years ago.
Ms Rose studied conceptual art and “worked in boring jobs to get by” until 2019 when she was involved in an accident that almost left her unable to draw.
“It was a blessing in disguise and a big wake up call, as soon as I could hold a pen again I was drawing seven plus hours a day, determined to build my portfolio,” the 28-year-old said.
Her hard work paid off in 2022 when she worked up the courage to present her portfolio to a studio while being tattooed.
“I decided to get a tattoo on a whim. I kept my portfolio in the car in case there was a moment where I had the courage to approach a studio,” she said.
“While getting tattooed I asked if they were looking for an apprentice. I gave them my portfolio to flick through and was invited to join the team shortly after.”
While it can be difficult to avoid burnout, Ms Rose said she would still continue to tattoo even if she won the lotto.
“It has been hard work, physically and mentally, with long hours, but extremely rewarding,” she said.
Bec Troisi
Instagram: @borktattoos
Studio: Black Diamond Tattoo, Port Adelaide
It wasn’t until she hit a wall working in the film industry that Bec Troisi considered becoming a tattoo artist at 30.
“I was in the film industry, doing makeup – mostly gore, prosthetics – but I hit a point with it where I felt like the industry was somewhat draining, and that there was a certain artistic element of my creative process that wasn’t being satisfied,” she said.
“So I threw together a tattoo portfolio – it was just a PDF of all my images and stuff, my brother helped me make it look good, and sent it to as many shops as I could.”
When she walked into Black Diamond Tattoo in Port Adelaide, she “lost (her) mind” and was over the moon to be offered an apprenticeship.
While going from a field in which she had years of experience into an industry where she “essentially knew nothing” has been a challenge, the past two years of her apprenticeship have been “wonderful,” she said.
“Some of my drawing skills were transferable, but there’s a myriad of skills that I had to learn to be effective at my job.
“I’ve been truly blessed with this apprenticeship. I’m surrounded by supportive mentors, and also role models – specifically because the environment created at Black Diamond is so unique and wonderful.”
Adriana Chippillo
Instagram: @adriana.c.tattoos
Studio: Black Diamond Tattoo, Port Adelaide
A lover of bold, bright and colourful tattoos, fourth-year apprentice Adriana Chippillo is currently based at Black Diamond Tattoo.
Since joining the BDT team in February, Ms Chippillo has focused on traditional tattooing.
However this hasn’t stopped her from exploring other styles with her portfolio including geometric, realism and black and grey work.
Taj Parlor
Instagram: @plasma.revolver
Studio: Black Diamond Tattoo, Port Adelaide
Third-year apprentice Taj Parlor is known for his abstract spin on traditional American-style tattoos.
His artistic journey started from a young age painting graffiti and street art before discovering his passion for tattooing.
Mr Parlor began his tattoo apprenticeship at Black Diamond Tattoo in 2022 where he has continued to grow as an artist.
Cara Archer
Instagram: @cararose_tattoo
Studio: Sashiko Tattoo, Mount Barker
For Cara Archer, becoming a tattoo artist was a “natural progression” to take her body art to the next level.
The 34-year-old spent around two years looking for an apprenticeship before being offered a position at Shashiko Tattoo in Mount Barker last October.
Since then she has loved every minute of her apprenticeship and had the opportunity to learn from the incredible experience” of her mentors in the studio.
For those hoping to become a tattoo artist she recommends drawing everyday to improve your skill.
Renee Chessman
Instagram: @m00.ink
Studio: All Saints Tattoo Studio, Allenby Gardens
Specialising in grey wash, Renee Chessman, 20, loves realism animals and portraits.
Art has been a lifelong passion for Chessman who is also a talented painter and earned a diploma in visual artists in 2022 before landing a tattoo apprenticeship the following year.
“I’ve always loved art and it’s so rewarding to meet people who trust me enough to put my art on them forever,” she said.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience so far, it’s encouraging to see small improvements in my work every time I tattoo. Things can become overwhelming at times but it is so beyond worth it.”
Emily Day
Instagram: @state.of.art.tattoos
Studio: Scripted Souls Tattoo, Morphett Vale
Emily Day is a third-year apprentice at Scripted Souls Tattoo in Morphett Vale.
Although she is most known for her fine line and patchwork pieces, Ms Day has a range of styles within her wheelhouse including traditional and cybergilism.
She also has a small following on TikTok where she posts her work and has gained over 13,000 likes.
Zhaine Reynolds
Instagram: @splatmann
Studio: Scripted Souls Tattoo, Morphett Vale
Zhaine Reynolds aka Splat Man is a second-year apprentice at Scripted Souls Tattoo working in a range of styles from dark gothic to floral to full colour pieces.
Mr Reynolds is also a graffiti artist and has created murals across the country, including Melbourne’s iconic Hosier Lane.
“I have a very strong background in graffiti and street art, which translates a lot into my tattoo style. I love doing neo traditional and blackwork,” he said.
“I want to have my own style/colour palette that’s so recognisable you can tell it’s a Splat Man piece by looking at it.”
Fridaa Mason
Instagram: @fridaa.ink
Studio: Celebrity Ink Tattoo Tea Tree, Modbury
In her first year, emerging apprentice at Celebrity Ink Tattoo Tea Tree Fridaa Mason mostly works in fine line and script.
Prior to beginning her apprenticeship she studied at the Creative Industries Training Academy where she learnt the fundamentals of tattooing last year.
Daniel (Jack) Alison
Instagram: @visions_from_above_ink
Studio: Celebrity Ink Tattoo Tea Tree, Modbury
Specialising in gothic, script and traditional tattoos, Daniel Alison, who also goes by Jack Visions, is all about turning tattoo dreams into reality.
After losing his job in sales, his wife motivated him to pursue his passion for art leading to him landing his apprenticeship two years ago.
“I have done a lot of band art for my band Swordfishtrombone which is how I started getting into art,” the 35-year-old said.
“I had lost my job and was on Seek looking for other sales gigs and I had seen the advertisement for apprentices with Celebrity Ink.
“I wasn’t going to apply but my heavily pregnant wife pushed me into applying as she knew I hated working in sales and she knew this would be something I would chase with passion.”
Based at Celebrity Ink Tattoo Tea Tree, Mr Daniel said he felt “so blessed that people would choose me to tattoo them”.
Sky
Instagram: @skyeline_tattoos
Studio: Celebrity Ink Tattoo Tea Tree, Modbury
Sky is an apprentice at Celebrity Ink Tattoo Tea Tree who has been recently exploring fine line and script styles.
Her flash designs consist of cute and dainty designs like plants, ribbons and animals.
Emilie Deane-Freeman
Instagram: @faerie.inks
Studio: Wolf & Wren Tattoo Collective, St Peters
Second-year apprentice and “plant nerd” Emilie Deane-Freeman, 25, specialises in illustrative style tattoos.
Based at Wolf & Wren Tattoo Collective in St Peters, tattooing is a way for her to share her creative side with other people.
“I have always found myself coming back to art, any time I’ve tried anything else art just pulls me back in,” she said.
While the local industry itself is supportive, female artists such as herself often cop sexism, she said.
“We have a lot of really great, lovely tattooers in Adelaide and it’s been so awesome getting to know a bunch of them.
“As with any industry, there are certainly a few problems. I, and a lot of other female tattooers that I know, do get the occasional creep in our dms, or just sexist comments in general, but that’s not exclusive to the tattoo industry of course.”
Theodore Johnathan
Instagram: @teddy__tattoos
Studio: Wolf & Wren Tattoo Collective, St Peters
Second-year tattoo apprentice Theodore Johnathan enjoys doing neo-traditional artwork and creating whimsical, fantasy art pieces.
Also known as Teddy Tattoos, the 26-year-old’s journey has been “one full of ups and downs” before finding his “family” at Wolf & Wren Tattoo Collective.
“(There have been) moments where I thought I was going to quit forever and sold my stuff only to months later miss the job, the creative freedom and try back up again,” he said.
“I have worked in a few studios trying to find a place that made me comfortable and truly welcomed, I think that was one of my biggest struggles.
“The family at Wolf and Wren has been the most supportive place I have ever worked. The artists that I work with are so talented and everyone is so lovely.”
With more and more people getting tattoos than ever, Mr Johnathan was glad that the world is opening up to seeing tattoos “for what it is – art.”
Percy James
Instagram: @percyjems
Studio: Tattoo Gallery, Adelaide
Based at the Tattoo Gallery in Adelaide, Percy James’ art style is “all over the place” but takes inspiration from Japanese tattoos, wood block prints, anime and manga.
As a teen, they always knew they wanted to become a tattoo artist but kept putting it off, leading them to pursue three different career paths before circling back.
“I always wanted to tattoo, but I kept putting it off until I started getting tattooed by Nate (@painstickers) and they convinced me – pretty easily, mind you – to pursue it,” they said.
They said the apprenticeship had been a “rollercoaster” dealing with impostor syndrome but hoped to “keep getting better, and to keep creating fun pieces that my clients love.”
Cindy Reid
Instagram: @inky.minx
Studio: Lucky Frog Tattoo, Adelaide
When it comes to tattooing, Cindy Reid’s designs are the perfect blend of dainty fineline and grunge-style blackwork.
You can find the third-year apprentice tattooing at Lucky Frog Tattoo, a traditional based studio in the heart of Chinatown.
Jake Gaston
Instagram: @jakegastontattoo
Studio: Lucky Frog Tattoo, Adelaide
If you’re after the next addition to your traditional sleeve, look no further than Jake Gaston.
An apprentice at traditional-based studio Lucky Frog Tattoo, Mr Gaston’s skills shine in his bold lines and black work.
Kiana Crawford
Instagram: @kianastabs
Studio: Mystery Ink Tattoo Studio, Semaphore
Kiana Crawford is a first-year apprentice and body piercer at Mystery Ink Tattoo Studio in Semaphore.
With a keen eye for detail, the 24-year-old’s talent is evident in her fine line and micro-realism designs.
Emy
Instagram: @emy.scissorhands
Studio: Infinite Worlds Tattoo, Adelaide
Known as Emy Scissorhands Tattoo, Emy is a fourth-year apprentice at Infinite Worlds tattoo, specialising in traditional, neo-traditional, stipple realism, and illustrative styles.
Forced to limit their own self expression as a teen model, Emy is passionate about helping her clients express themselves freely and without judgement through tattoos.
Abbey
Instagram: @rain_tattoos
Studio: Vintage Scarecrow, Woodville
Abbey, aka Rain Tattoos, is a third-year apprentice currently based at Vintage Scarecrow in Woodville.
She works in a range of styles and has flash designs inspired by musicians including Taylor Swift and Hozier.
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