All roads lead to… Rochester
From worldwide fans to ancient artefacts, artist Sebastian Nowacki is creating an international ink destination at Rochester’s Tattoo By Law studio
Some 10 feet below Rochester High Street lies the original, ancient road to London.
The astonishingly formulaic stone slabs are hidden away from public view only to be seen by the lucky proprietors of the historic centre’s shops and pubs. One such portion of astoundingly assembled antiquity resides in the basement of an unassuming building in the famous Medway town.
There is always something magical about artefacts and infrastructure dating back to the Roman period. How did they do it? How were they so far ahead of their time? And so it is perhaps fitting that this diamond of a discovery is itself part of another hidden gem – Tattoo By Law (TBL).
Number 48, Rochester High Street, is home to internationally renowned tattoo artist Sebastian Nowacki – and that piece of Roman road forms the flooring of his stylish design studio.
“We had it tested,” says Nowacki, admiring the smooth stone surface. “It is just amazing to have it here.”
Specialising in surrealist art tattoos, Nowacki is known across the globe for his particular brand of needlework, with clients – this year alone – heading to Medway from as far afield as the United States, Dubai and even Bermuda. Originally from Poland, the skin illustrator has been living in the UK for almost 20 years, spending the last four as a Rochester resident. But with late-night finishes at his former London workplace and the cumbersome commute no longer gripping his inking, a little place in the shadow of the cathedral beckoned.
“With the new train station right outside, people are coming here from London to get tattooed, too,” says Nowacki.
“I have people coming from all over the world to see me here. Tattooing is very different now – it’s an art.
“Everything has been achieved in tattooing, so it’s more about the style that you like and finding the person who does your style. If someone likes your style of tattooing, they will follow you and travel to you.”
“With the new train station right outside, people are coming here from London to get tattooed, too,” says Nowacki.
“I have people coming from all over the world to see me here. Tattooing is very different now – it’s an art.
“Everything has been achieved in tattooing, so it’s more about the style that you like and finding the person who does your style. If someone likes your style of tattooing, they will follow you and travel to you.”
“I can normally use up to 45 colours in one piece, so no one ever gets the same colour tattoo”
Nowacki shares his studio with traditional-style tattoo artist Mirko Avino and laser-treatment specialist Sanola Reddy, who are experts in their field of removing or covering up unwanted previous inkings.
“I am known for my cover-ups,” says Nowacki. “I just wish people would research their tattoos more before they get them done.”
STYLE
Colour plays a huge part in Nowacki’s work, and this stems from his younger days when a brush was his tool rather than a needle.
“I was always painting,” he says. “My grandfather was a painter and I picked up a lot of tricks from him. I now tattoo in the same way that I used to paint.
“My style is a mixture of realism, surrealism and very colourful pieces. The more colours the better.
“I can normally use up to 45 colours in one piece, so no one ever gets the same colour tattoo. That’s also why no one tends to copy my style because I use so many colours.”
With almost 53,000 followers on Instagram, Nowacki’s reach has seen him collaborate and share ideas with some of the most recognised artists in the world. They include New Zealand’s Ryan Evans, Portugal’s Dave Paulo and Australia’s Benjamin Laukis.
There have even been instances of two artists working together on one piece, taking it in turns to create a marathon masterpiece.
“Some people travel so far – they stay and we will go through three days straight to get it all done before they go home. It can be intense,” says Nowacki.
“If you are in this circle, you push each other. For example, for all my own tattoos, I travel to my friends to have them done. They are all works in progress, but you can get an amazing piece of art.”
With sponsors such as Intenze Inks, Eikon Needles and H2Ocean aftercare products, Nowacki can concentrate on being the best artist he can be.
“I believe that if you want to do something, you have to want to be the best at it,” he says. “In this job you are giving something to someone, potentially, for the rest of their life. To be at the top, you have to be unique!”
And the unassuming little shop on Rochester High Street is certainly that.