Tattoo - Stevie Sue

Fine art teacher Stevie Sue follows her creative dreams as a tattoo illustrator in Whitstable

How did you get started in the tattoo game?

I started my apprenticeship at Skin Illustrations, Whitstable, in October 2015, having previously been a fine art teacher at a local high school, which I enjoyed greatly.

But I think you have a moment in your life when you have the courage to pursue your dreams and the sum- mer of 2015 was that time for me.

Being creative is what I thrive on and creating is where I get my satisfaction.

Teaching is still an aspect of my life and I am currently teaching GCSE Fine Art on a one-to-one basis to a group of year 10 boys.

Was it scary moving from canvas to skin?

Honestly, the first tattoo I did was the scariest thing I have ever done but also the most exciting. During my first few months of tattooing,

I met the most amazing and trusting people who let me tattoo my own designs on them. I love creating pieces of art on the skin and hope to have a very long career doing so.

Do you have a particular style?

As an artist I have always been drawn to portraiture and working in pencil.

When I started in tattooing, it opened up a passion for colour that I didn't know I had, with most of my work and designs being Neo-Traditional colour.
My love for portraiture is still a strong influence in my designs and I jump at the chance to tattoo a pretty lady. My designs also include gemstones, as I love creating the form of cuts in the stones, colourful birds, pearl-framed hearts, flowers and bees. But I also still enjoy many other styles such as black and grey and dot work.

What are your creative influences?

I have many creative influences; people, life, my family and living in Whitstable.

Other local tattoo artists inspire me such as Zak Breakspear, Jon Harte and Kat Adby. But my clients have great ideas that inspire me to create a design for them, which is individual. My brain never stops think- ing of ideas.

What has been the best moment doing your job so far?

There have been too many to pinpoint one. I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life. It's quite an intimate process and I like to learn about the person I am tattooing. It's such an amazing feeling know- ing my art is walking around in the world rather than in the confines of a gallery.

A few pieces I have done are now on the other side of the world!

You can follow Stevie Sue’s work on Instagram @littlecorella_tattoo