I met the lovely Siobhan Lyons in a little pub on Columbia Road, of flower market fame, on a drunken Saturday afternoon.
Heart this heart tattooHope
Tickle meStarry eared
I also had the pleasure of meeting Siobhan’s friend Jess Jobst. The girls had been drawing copies of their tattoos onto each other.
Siobhan and Jessdon't rub me it's fakeReal or fake? Siobhan with Jess's tattooDon't rub me it's biro - Jess with Siobhan's tattooEiffel Tower - Jess's real tattoo
Feature girl: Rachael D’Alessandro
Today’s feature girl is the beautiful ink addict Rachael, she is in the buying team at Topshop, she loves art and lives in London.
Rachael considers her tattoos as art and treats her body like a blank canvas. The tattoos that adorn her body are art not necessarily about meaning, but about beauty. Art that will live on her skin forever…She even considered tattooing as a career option, but somehow her path has taken her into fashion and as you can see from this collection of photos she is one stylishly painted lady…
Her first tattoo was the heart wings, in between her shoulder blades, adapted from a drawing that she did at the age of 16 (tattoo was also done at this time but shh don’t tell anyone – clearly a rebel at heart). The tattoo was done at a studio in Lincoln.
Her second tattoo is the word Faith on her wrist in flowing type. This lovely little inking is by Chris at Modern Body Art. Chris was also lucky enough to ink her for a third time, this time her right wrist and a very feminine flowing garden vine design.
round and round the garden...
Her fourth (and one of my faves) is her heart, locket and flower design, on her lower back, so beautifully feminine against her skin. This is by Dawny and again was done at Modern Body Art. Rachael liked this one so much she got Dawny to do her fifth arm piece, inspired by all the things she loves.
This is Rachael's personal favourite piece
I unconditionally love this tattoo.
Her sixth piece, again another Modern Body Art masterpiece, is her treasure chest with the word Agape. Agape means unconditional love in Greek philosophy.
Her seventh piece is the writing on her neck, this is a love piece and her boyfriend has the same design. Inspired by Beethoven’s third love letter to Josephine, Immortal Beloved.
Rachael your art is beautiful and I would love to see more as you cover your canvas…
Feature girl: Eve (@evebeebee)
8:30-5, Monday to Friday she is an Accountant, the rest of the time she is a tattooed vintage pirate barbie doll, now she is my latest tattoo crush.
“I got my first tattoo when I was 22. Maybe a little late to start but I’ve seen so many awful tattoos; ill thought out and a 16-year-old’s fad, done in a dodgy parlour. I wanted to be sure what I was getting and where I was going…I’ve always tried to be a little ‘different’, be it with clothes or hair (it has been known to be bright pink). Tattoos were a natural progression for expressing myself and my individuality…As an accountant I would hate to live up to the ‘boring’ stereotype, but I think I manage to remove myself somewhere far from it…”
Join me on her tattoo countdown…
Lose your dreams and you will lose your mindVargas inspired
Number 1 – “the line of music on my foot. It’s actually a line from the Rolling Stones song Ruby Tuesday. I drew it out myself from the actual sheet music, you could use my foot as a score if I put it on a music stand! The notes as apposed to the lyrics add my own individual flair.
Tattoo by Rich at Underground Tattoo, in Walsall.”
Number two – “the pin up girl on my ribs by Mark at Midlands Tattoo Centre, in Cannock. By this point tattoos are becoming a slight addiction. I love the old style pin-up girl artists such as Gil Elvgren and Alberto Vargas. This was completely inspired by Vargas’ calendar pin-up drawing, December girl from 1944.”
Twisted stereotype
Three and four – “my wrists. This was more for ironic amusement than anything. I always find it funny when you tell people you have tattoos, reactions tend to be ‘at least you don’t have love and hate across your knuckles!’ My response now is ‘Well no…but I do have it on my wrists!’ It’s in script so not ‘obvious’ unless you look properly.”
Number five – “I originally wanted a peacock, but I couldn’t find a picture I liked. I wanted its tail swooping around my back. My tattooist Mark found a picture of a phoenix and I loved it, so it evolved from there. It is about 95% complete, with just a little bit more work on the tail needed.”
Pain like a thorn
Number six – “(My final for now at least), the rose on the back of my neck, this hurt a lot! My boyfriend will be getting the same tattoo but in blue. We’ll have a matching set!”
Eve. You’re my inspiration, I am totally tattoo crushing on you.
Location: Victoria Park for Lovebox fun.
Lovebox tattoo love.Location: The Royal Oak, Columbia Road
Feature girl: Rachael D’Alessandro
Her first tattoo was the heart wings, in between her shoulder blades, adapted from a drawing that she did at the age of 16 (tattoo was also done at this time but shh don’t tell anyone – clearly a rebel at heart). The tattoo was done at a studio in Lincoln.
Her fourth (and one of my faves) is her heart, locket and flower design, on her lower back, so beautifully feminine against her skin. This is by Dawny and again was done at Modern Body Art. Rachael liked this one so much she got Dawny to do her fifth arm piece, inspired by all the things she loves.
Rachael your art is beautiful and I would love to see more as you cover your canvas…
