Inking big in the world of tattooing

With tattoos now considered an art form in their own right, and one in seven adults now sporting at least one, it was only a matter of time before the world of tattooing made good television, with the hit US reality TV show, Miami Ink, leading the way.

The show, which focuses on the art and drama of tattooing, follows the work of world-renowned tattooists, including Chris Nunez, Chris Garver, Darren Brass and James Hamilton. While they have commissions from all around the world and a waiting list of up to two years, the team have taken time out of their hectic schedules and are coming to Edinburgh.

"I couldn't quite believe it when I found out," laughs 27-year-old Brooke Mackay-Brock, who owns Love Hate Tattoo in Newington, and is hosting the celebrity team from Wednesday, July 16, for a whole week.

"My mum and dad have been going on holiday to South Beach, Miami, every year and my dad got a tattoo there a couple of years ago in the Miami Ink shop, where the show is based. He's gone back a few times and is quite friendly with the guys now.

"Just recently Chris Garver had some appointments, so he got him to do a tattoo and was talking to him about them coming over to work in my shop. When dad told me what he was going to do I was like, 'Yeah right dad' but he did. He's quite persuasive. He asked them, and Chris said, 'Why not'? They are basically coming over for a holiday – they know my dad, they can work in the studio but they're also out sightseeing.

"They are really, really excited. They're going on about visiting the Castle, all the museums and, of course, the nightlife.

"Miami and Edinburgh are worlds apart in terms of culture and history, so it's all very new and exciting for them. And I can't wait to see them partying in Edinburgh – they're really looking forward to that part."

They certainly are. "It's gonna be good," laughs tattoo artist Darren Brass, 36, who's inked a myriad of US celebrities and sports stars. "As artists, we do a lot of travelling to different cities around the world but we've never been to Scotland before or heard that much about it, so we thought, why not?

"We're going to have a good time when we're there, definitely. Every time we go and work we always make sure there's time to enjoy it. It's always great working with different artists to see how they work and what they do."

The popularity of tattooing has surged in recent years and, according to Darren – whose ink works can cost thousands – this is down to the acceptability of tattooing as an art form.

He explains: "I don't think it's moved into an art form – it's always been an art form, but I think perceptions have changed. The media have helped and it's talked about a lot more.

"People see celebrities, entertainers and sports figures having tattoos – it's just out there in the public eye more. Our show has also opened up many doors. It's seen as body art, a form of decoration and self-expression.

"Men tend to get larger tattoos, while women think of tattoos as mementoes. Once they might have put a charm on a bracelet, now they get a tattoo . . ."

Brooke agrees: "Miami Ink has been a great help in raising the profile of real tattooing and opening it up to a wider audience. It is more acceptable and common now. That biker/sailor image is long gone. It's an art form.

"From the equipment, the skills needed to apply the ink, everything has come on so far. Even the range of colours is vast – before it was Indian ink and the odd red colour. Now, for example, you can get 20 shades of red. The actual guns vary for different pieces and there are different sized needles for shading and shaping.

"We've tattooed 18-year-old girls who want stars on their wrists, to professionals who want full body suits. It is for everyone. Our oldest customer is 75 – he came in after his wife died and had her name put on his wrist."

Love Hate Tattoo have been inundated with tattoo requests from the Miami Ink team, but Brooke stresses that it's not down to first come first served, as the ink experts themselves choose the final clients.

She explains: "People bring in their ideas and designs, I pass them on to the guys in Miami and they are choosing the ones they want to do. They are choosing the really nice pieces and limiting each piece to around two hours."

Darren adds: "Concepts for the tattoo in advance are important, as I like to research and translate that into an artwork. It can even be something vague, but I like to work it out in advance.

"We always work with the client to create something just for them. So far (with Edinburgh clients], we've been getting bold, strong designs of all types, from the graffiti works to the Japanese symbols, so it's very exciting for us.

"Everyone is treated the same – from celebrities to your average Joe – and the same amount of effort goes into each tattoo."

Darren's background is in graffiti-style design, and his passion started when he was 18 and got his first tattoo. Brooke's background, on the other hand, is in art and photography – and her dad's love-hate relationship with tattoos.

"My dad used to have these really homemade-looking tattoos but he had them removed – he just hated them, and I never really cared for tattoos," she recalls. "Then he started getting really good new artwork ones when I was at Liberton High School.

"I was looking to get an apprenticeship but it's quite difficult to get into and it's unpaid.

"So the money I was going to put into doing an apprenticeship I decided to put into opening up my own studio, and I hired qualified artists whom I learnt from."

Starting off on pig skins, it wasn't long before her friends were lending her their limbs to practice on. "I have my boyfriend's left arm," she laughs. "He told me it was mine to practice on so I've done a lot of work on that.

"I've done work on myself, on my leg. It was really good and the most painless one I've had. You know how deep to go and can judge it easier. I remember my dad walked in and couldn't believe he saw me tattooing my own leg."

A tattoo can take anything from ten minutes to several hours, and body suits take months. "A full arm would consist of the outline, then shading, then colour. It needs to heal individually."

With appointments still up for grabs, one question remains: how sore is it really? "It's more uncomfortable than painful – think of it like a dull scratching. But trust me, it is worth it."

For more information on Love Hate Tattoo, 59 Newington Road, telephone 0131-667 6780 or visit www.lovehatetattoo.co.uk. Prices start at 40 and there's an 80 per hour charge. The Miami Ink team will be in Edinburgh at Love Hate Tattoo from July 16-23.

Miami Ink is available to watch on Discovery Real Time and TLC. Visit www.tlc.discovery.com