Pride Spotlight: Meet The Owner Of A New Queer, Female-Run Tattoo Studio
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2 days ago
Plus, 3 questions to ask before getting tattooed.
East London-bound and looking for a new tattoo? One of the best realism tattoo artists in the world, Lucy Barker, has set up shop in Hackney, opening Latex Heart Tattoo at the start of 2025. In celebration of Pride Month, we spoke to Lucy about her new studio, and asked her for some top tips for those new to the world of tattooing, but thinking of getting some permanent ink this year.
Q&A: Lucy Barker, Tattoo Artist
Can you tell us about your studio and the artists we’ll find there?
Latex Heart Tattoo is located in the heart of Hackney, East London, we are a queer and female-owned tattoo studio dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for everyone. We have nine resident artists and four regular guest artists who all specialise in a diverse range of styles from hand poke ornamentals to traditional Japanese, realism and blackwork.
What makes it special?
Personally I think what makes the studio special is the sense of community you feel when you visit. I opened this studio to build a new home for many of us who have worked together for years. We are colleagues, but more than that we are a group of friends who really enjoy spending time and working collaboratively together. Many clients have commented on how they have felt a sense of belonging when visiting and feel very much welcomed and included.
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Can you tell us more about your work, your favourite designs and what you’re known for?
I am a realism artist with a focus on portraiture and classical art. I love to bring a sense of surrealism into my work as well. Some of my favourite designs have been those from classical painters such as John William Waterhouse and William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Up until fairly recently I have also been known for my “stripping skeletons” which steer more into the surrealism side of my art.
If you’re new to getting a tattoo, how do you find the right tattoo artist for you?
Finding the right tattoo artist for many people will usually be based on three things, the tattoo you want to get, your location, and your budget. Most tattooers showcase their work on Instagram these days so it’s always good to shop around on there.
Design: If you have a specific idea for your tattoo, you should look for an artist whose work speaks to you and they cover a style that you like. If you don’t have anything concrete in mind many artists will offer “pre made” or “flash” designs you can pick from or offer to have a consultation with you so you can discuss your ideas together.
Location: If you don’t want to travel far you can look for artists based on tattoo studios in your local area and narrow down your search that way.
Budget: If you have a budget it’s always good to include your spending cap when making an enquiry. A lot of artists will find ways and workarounds to accommodate, however sometimes your budget may not stretch to what you want to get, and that’s okay! By making the enquiry in the first place you will only be better informed.
Some tattoo artists will charge by the hour, some will charge per design so having an open dialogue about it is always helpful for both parties.
What is the difference between traditional tattoo and fine-line?
Traditional tattooing can cover a broad spectrum of styles from American traditional (your famous sailor Jerry’s) to Japanese or ornamental, usually these styles are bolder with thicker lines. Traditionally tattooing usually uses a simpler colour palette and fewer line weights.
Fineline tattooing, again, can cover a wide range of styles, however as a rule of thumb uses smaller needle sets to build up the picture, this could be anything from a simpler colour palette script tattoo to realism portraits.
How do you collaborate with clients to create a design that’s right for them?
Every tattoo artist works differently so there is no one way to collaborate on a design. For the more straightforward requests, I will receive an enquiry from a customer who will usually describe the design and include reference images of what they want, (this could include examples of what they have found on the internet or pictures of tattoos I have done previously), they will also let me know the rough placement and size, (this helps a lot when offering a quote). Once a quote has been approved by the client and a deposit has been paid we can secure a date. Once I have a design made I will send it over to the client for approval or tweaks ahead of the appointment.
For more complex projects I offer a free consultation where a client can come to the studio and we can sit and brainstorm together, this will result in a super simple sketch that I can go away with and refine before any appointment.
This is just how I work, as I said before, every artist is different, a lot of tattoo artists won’t share designs ahead of time and some artists will do all their designing the day of the appointment with the customer.
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What are 3 questions to ask your tattoo artist before you book in for your first visit?
In addition to what we’ve already discussed above, the following are useful to think about:
Numbing cream: always ask ahead of your appointment if you want to use numbing cream, some artists don’t like it, but those who do will be able to recommend a cream that they’re happy to work with.
Attire: a tattoo artist should always want you to feel as comfortable as possible so if you’re getting a tattoo in a location that isn’t as easily accessible around regular clothing ask your artist if they recommend any specific clothing items that will allow them access whilst maintaining your comfort.
Preparation and expectation: many artists will advise on how to prepare for your session this will include eating properly before the appointment, bringing snacks and drinks with you, and looking after your skin appropriately in the run up to your appointment.
If you’re feeling anxious or susceptible to overstimulation let your artist know ahead of your appointment and they will be happy to make adjustments to accommodate you and ensure you’re comfortable.
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Visit Latex Heart Tattoo Studio at: One B Unit 8, Stephen House, Darnley Rd, London E9 6QH. Find out more about the studio at @latexhearttattoo and see more of Lucy’s work @lucyorbarker
