A Day in the Life of a Tattoo Artist (And How I Stay Creative)
- Tiggy
- Jan 27
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Hello, and welcome to a little behind-the-scenes peek at my life as a tattoo artist here at Mt. Moon Tattoo! I’ve been tattooing for over 12 years now, and a tattoo shop owner for 8 of those years. Every day is a mix of creativity, a touch of chaotic energy, and getting to hang out with my best friends while I do it. Let’s dive into what a typical day looks like and how I keep my creativity flowing.
Morning Rituals: Starting the Day Right
My day usually starts with me waking up later than I probably should - oops! I tend to stay up late to grab some personal time after long workdays. I’m not here to fake perfection! It’s a bit of a rush to get ready, making sure Bambi is settled and leaving his toys out for the dog sitter. Then it’s a 40-minute drive into Gloucester—I'm a countryside girly, none of that city life for me! I always make time to stop by M&S for a yummy pastry for brekky - little wins in the day are important. Once I’m at the studio, I catch up with Leah about work and life and whatever reality show we're gonna binge that day. It’s nice to have that moment of connection before cracking on with the day, it's something I look forward to each morning. After that, I focus on getting set up for my appointment: cleaning my station, ensuring everything is ready for my client’s arrival, checking messages, and reviewing the designs I’ve prepared.
Bringing Designs to Life: How to get through the day together.
Tattooing is such a team effort. Clients bring me their ideas—some are just rough concepts, some are super specific, and sometimes they let me have total free reign. My job is to turn those ideas into a design that fits their vision and works as a tattoo. But the teamwork doesn’t stop there! Once we’ve got the design sorted, I rely on them to sit still (which isn’t always easy when we’re going for hours). It’s a proper partnership, and together, we create something awesome.
A big part of tattooing is getting to know your client during the process. You’re spending hours together, sometimes six or seven, so there’s plenty of time to chat. I love hearing about where people are from, what they’re into, and what makes them tick. Most of the time, we’re chatting about video games, anime, or nerdy pop culture—all the things that inspire me, too. But even when we don’t have much in common, I personally find it interesting to learn something new, I enjoy that just as much. Getting to know my clients sparks my creativity, and seeing their excitement as the tattoo comes to life is the best part, it makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Post-Tattoo Wind Down: Time to Rest?
After a full day of tattooing, I clean up my space and check in with whoever’s still around, making sure everyone’s good and everything’s in order before I head home. My evenings are pretty simple—usually spent hanging out with Bambi and grabbing something quick to eat. There’s always a few chores to do, but I also make time to prep for the week ahead. What people don’t always realise is how much work happens outside of the shop. I spend hours each week designing for multiple appointments, often in the evenings or on my ‘days off.’ When I’m not drawing, I’m handling emails, scheduling posts, or sorting through admin. And that’s why I end up staying up late—after working from 11am to 11pm, I need some time to unwind, whether it’s gaming or just hanging out with loved ones. Then, the cycle starts again.
Finding Inspiration Outside the Studio
For my mental health, I make sure to carve out time for other creative passions. I love painting miniatures, DIY projects, gardening and doing nail art (just on my own nails though). I have a lot of other discarded hobbies, but we won't get into that right now.... These hobbies keep my creativity flowing and inspire my tattoo work. Nature is another big source of inspiration. I try to spend time outdoors, whether it’s walking with Bambi when the weather is nice or simply watching the birds outside my window. There’s so much colour and detail in the natural world if you take a moment to notice.
Balancing Work and Rest - It's hard!
Running a private studio means I’m not just tattooing, I’m also managing bookings, running socials, prepping 'content', communicating with clients, and helping to keep things running smoothly with Leah, Anna and Andy, who are integral parts of our little team. It can be a lot to juggle, but I’ve learned the importance of setting boundaries and making time for rest - even if I'm not good at enforcing it! Some evenings, when I simply just 'cannot', you’ll find me curled up on the sofa, Bambi by my side, playing a cosy game or watching a favourite show. These quiet moments recharge me for the next day.
Why I Love What I Do
Tattooing is about more than just ink - it’s about telling people’s stories or creating something that looks really flippin’ cool! Not every tattoo has to have deep meaning, and we love that too. Every client brings something new to the table, and that variety keeps me inspired. I’m also lucky to work in a space that feels cosy, is nerdy, and very uniquely us. At Mt. Moon Tattoo, we’ve worked hard to create an inclusive, welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable. On top of all that, I get to spend every day with my best friend, and we always make time for our ‘McDonald’s Sundays.’ Simple pleasures. Gotta appreciate those small wins.
Thanks for joining me for a day in my life! If you’re curious about getting tattooed or just want to chat about your favourite video game, you’re always welcome to reach out. Creativity and connection are at the heart of everything I do, and I’m so grateful to share this journey with all of you.
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