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Skin Deep

Skin Deep 214
  • Optican Illusion - Rask Opticon
    When you're Rask Opticon and you've dedicated the better part of the last 25 years to creating art, it should be no surprise that after conquering everything else, the natural progression of canvas would lead you to flesh…
  • Quick-Fire Questions: Niki Norberg
    At first Niki Norberg didn’t even want to be a tattooist as he was convinced that his clientele would only consist of “metalheads, whores and criminals”. But he’s now worked at Heidi Hay’s studio for four years, during which time he’s been involved...
  • Paul Sweeney - 214: Keep On Running
    I’m not entirely sure whether it’s possible to have a midlife crisis at 30? And if I am what effect it could potentially have on my longevity? Much to my disbelief, after a lengthily conversation with a close friend I haven’t been acquainted with...
  • Set Fire to the Rain: Brussels & Oslo - Craigy Lee
    After a quick stop in London for the Great British Tattoo Show, I set our next destination on the GPS to see a rather daunting ‘2,000km to destination’ flash in front of my eyes… our next stop is Oslo, Norway, and it’s a hell of a drive from London!
  • The Cover Model - Amanda West
    When Mr Cole flaunted these pics in front of us, there was very little we could say apart from “they’re ours”. With that side figured out and one of the best covers in a long time under the belt, we went drilling for oil inside the head of Amanda...
  • Head Start - Myke Chambers
    The age of 12 is not usually a time when one begins experimenting with tattooing. Unless you’re Myke Chambers that is, then it’s just another day in the life…
  • Tattoofest Krakow 2012
    I always wanted to visit this tattoo convention. I’ve heard so many good things about this event, but unfortunately something always came up and I couldn’t go.
  • Scenes from: The Summer Inkfest 2012 - Genk, Belgium
    The first Summer Inkfest in Genk in the eastern part of Belgium took place in an historical mine building called C-Mine. It may be the first, but it certainly won’t be the last as we take closer look at this great weekend.
  • An Eye Is Upon You - 214: The Big Society
    When I was little, I lived in a little house, in a little village, a few hundred yards from my Grandma’s (also little) house. My whole world was small…
  • Behind Closed Doors - Lianne Moule
    When the tattoo studio doors are closed, you’ll find some artists in the pub. Some though, you’ll find kicking out the jams in other ways – and as you would rightly imagine, we see one hell of a lot of those ‘other ways’ here.
  • The Bone House
    Not being ones to let a little language barrier stand in the way of some good art, we set Tom Abbott off on the trail of Ukrainian artists Alex, Ien and Kostya from Bone House to see what he could make of it, Nice work Sir!  
  • Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park
    It’s 1994 and two young musicians are trying to break into the notoriously difficult music scene. Being realistic as well as passionate about their dreams, they decide to open a tattoo studio to fall back on if things don’t go as planned…
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Skin Deep 213
  • Jeremiah Beshears - Federal Law
    I believe there are two things that define us in life – the events that happen to us and how we react to those events. We can either use these events to learn and ultimately shape us for the better, or we can let them consume and destroy us....
  • An Eye Is Upon You - 213: The Heavy Heart
    I’ve been writing about tattoos on and off for a decade, starting as a student. I’ve written thousands of words, but there is one phrase I’ve studiously avoided using, the traditionally popular, ‘heavily tattooed’…
  • First Blood 212: Choosing an Artist
    Continuing our series of short articles for those new to the tattoo scene.
  • Reader Profile: The Band
    DRAG are a sleazy-punk band with outrageous songs and a live show to match. Addressing themes most bands are afraid to – such as eating disorders, gender issues and self-harm without apology – they’ve also got a killer ink habit…
  • The Width of a Circle - Math
    As ever, stumbling across things you love by accident is far more pleasing than when somebody puts it beneath your nose and tells you how great they thought it was. Such is the case with Math. Evil genius or brilliant scientist? That’s for you to...
  • The Rising Son - Horimyo
    In a world that gets smaller with every passing hour, little things can make your day, such as this exclusive photoset and tasty personal narrative from our man in New Yawk, David Marden.
  • Celebrity Skin: Jessica Gahring of NY Ink
    We may have reached a logical conclusion with the cast of NY INK, but there’s still plenty left to talk about. This issue, Jessica Gahring picks up the gauntlet.
  • Northampton Tattoo Convention 2012
    The first show in Northampton was a real sight to behold  - Agnieszka Hairesis picks up on all the good bits...
  • Paul Sweeney - 213: Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon. In The... Summertime?
    Before I get started on another one of my pun-laden tangents associated with what appears to be a recurrently unhealthy obsession with the appropriation of song titles and lyrics specifically from ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s popular music, I would like to...
  • The Next 1000 Miles... - Craigy Lee
    My next two conventions are both taking place in Germany, the first in a small town called Plauen in east Germany, which is in its first year, and the second in the larger city of Frankfurt in western Germany, which is celebrating its 20th...
  • Dirk Behlau - The Eyes of a Stranger: Part 2
    In the second part of our interview with Dirk Behlau, we showcase some more of his incredible work from the road and dig into what life is like for a pro photographer a little bit more than some pros may like…
  • Celebrity Skin: Leah Jung
    I’ve known Leah for a couple of years now and she’s probably one of the most stable people I know, which is perhaps rather curious because most of the time, she gives the impression she could go off like an accident in a firework factory…
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Skin Deep 212
  • An Eye Is Upon You - 212: Transition
    Shortly before my grandma turned 85, I asked her about her younger days. So much had changed in her long, 20th century life that I expected to hear tales of how things used to be, but it wasn’t the differences that she wanted to talk about.
  • The Great British Tattoo Show 2012
    Somewhere around here, the streets are paved with gold. At least that’s what I used to believe all those years ago when I first moved here from Smallville, but such is the story of everybody that comes here trying to escape from themselves....
  • Bridgend Tattoo Studio
    It’s not often that we get the opportunity to mess around with the logistics of a busy studio and two touring and recording monster metal bands, but fuck with the system we have, and now proudly present you with:
  • Chantale Coady - Electric Barbarella
    I’ve known Chantale Coady going on two years now and every time I’ve seen her she has either been bent over a stencil sheet coming up with a killer design or laying some ink down on a very happy client. And at other times, it’s her name popping up...
  • Dave DeVries - The Monster in the Closet
    Ever feel like you should have been born somewhere else? I’ve always adored New York and all it has to offer – it’s kind of like a home from home. On this particular day in history, I just so happened to cross paths with a certain Mr Dave DeVries,...
  • Paul Sweeney - 212: It's a Family Affair
    Wait! Before allowing your ailing minds to jump to a multitude of addled conclusions and thus avoiding my column altogether, allow me to put you at ease.
  • First Blood 212: Bring on the Pain
    Continuing our series of short articles for those new to the tattoo scene.
  • Reader Profile 212: Scottish Gerald
    Scottish Gerald works in the accountancy department of his brother’s haulage business which transports goods around the UK. He is 54 and was born and raised in Dundee. Despite the obvious interest in tattoos, he also likes to spend his free-time...
  • Celebrity Skin: Megan Massacre
    Continuing our series of exclusives with the guys from NY INK, this issue – as you’ll have already noticed – we hooked up with the one and only Megan Massacre…
  • Dirk Behlau - The Eyes of a Stranger: Part 1
    Quite publicly, I have gone on record as saying great writers are born not made. Sure, I’ve taken my fair share of heat – normally from students staring down the barrel of £30k of debt – but I still believe it to be true. When the money runs out,...
  • Florian The Bavarian
    Hiding out in a tiny village in the mountains of Bavaria, south Germany, Florian Karg has been quietly banging out tattoos that have been impressing collectors the world over. We managed to infiltrate this, normally private tattooist’s lair, getting...
  • Portsmouth Tattoo Extravaganza 2012
    Now in its second year, the Portsmouth Tattoo Extravaganza continues to throw some great shapes down on the south coast – here are some of them!
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