By Josie Deacon & Ellen Desmond
Photography by Josie Deacon
Last month, Josie and I were lucky enough to be welcomed at Semper Tattoo’s studio in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket for a few hours. We got to chat to the tattoo artists and clients about the stories behind their tattoos and artwork. We were struck by the openness at the studio (and the amazing art on display in the window – go check it out if you live nearby)! Semper Tattoo has just been renovated and there was a great buzz of change in the studio the day we were there, which we both really related to.
We got to chat with Akasha the studio manager, when we first arrived, before meeting the rest of the artists and the clients who were being tattooed that day. The clients were being inked with everything from St Michael and the angels, to pet cats and Disney character Maleficent, which really reflects the broad array of art styles of the artists at Semper and the many different reasons that often bring such a random grouping of people together in one room every different day at the Semper studio.
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Here’s our Q&A with Akasha, who spoke about all things tattoo art, tattoo therapy and why positive relationships in the workplace are what sets Semper apart.
Q. Well, firstly, I was wondering what’s the reason you chose getting into the tattoo industry rather than any other creative industry. Was there any particular reason?
A. I guess I kind of like the permanence of tattoos, I suppose. Yeah, I think it’s definitely a way of remembering something normally like if you’re getting a tattoo you’re obviously trying to capture a moment and I think that obviously getting tattooed on your body is obviously making that permanent and then every time you look at that you’re always going to think of a particular time, or a place, or a person, or whatever it is. I think that’s what I really like about it and I think that’s why I get tattoos as well, I think. So it’s definitely what drew me to that rather than painting or drawing – obviously I do that as well but it’s a bit nicer to have something that’s on you.
Q. So at the moment, our content is discussing the idea of change and tattoos, and we think that oftentimes people might get a tattoo if they’re taking a next step or something. We were talking in the office that in some roles – I think we said hairdressers and tattoo artists – that people sometimes like really open up to them? Is that something you have to juggle in your everyday work experiences?
A. Yeah, it’s kind of as soon as someone sits in the chair they’re in therapy. I think maybe just because it’s a personal experience most of the time. Sometimes obviously it’s not but I think a lot of the time … you know, you’re with your artist, typically here [in the Semper Tattoo studio] for a whole day and you get to kind of sit and get to know and you know if there are things going on in your life at that time you maybe you want to talk to someone about it. Who better than someone who you just met? So I think definitely it happens quite a lot and we’re very open to it obviously, hearing stories.
Q. Speaking of those kinds of stories, do you notice any themes coming up again and again? Are things often about taking control of mental health or a marker of emotional wellbeing – are they things you see coming up a lot? Or what do you see?
A. It’s normally things like personal issues at that time and place. Sometimes like people will be going through a divorce or break-up or you know have recently been suffering from anxiety or depression and I think as well that each artist kinds of attracts the person that they are as well, at least a little bit. You kind of get different people opening up to different artists about different things because of, you know… like Claire tends to get middle-aged men coming in for tattoos and they face normally things like, they’re having trouble communicating with their kids or they’re going through divorce or they’re having a bad marriage. With like anxiety and depression, when other artists make it clear that they suffer with that as well they get people who want to talk to them about it, obviously.
Q. Do you want to tell us a little bit more about Semper? Why would be people like to come here specifically?
A. So Semper is a private studio. It’s all by appointment only. David the owner I think he really wanted to have a studio that got along really well, and the first two artists that joined, he specifically waited for the right people and wanted it to be like a proper family. Everyone here really genuinely gets along, it’s a really calm environment and I think that when people come for their first time here they realise that we all always kind of joke; we’re all having fun, and it’s very relaxed. I have people say that’s it’s a nice environment to spend a day and that’s I think why we tend to have people who come back or send their friends. That’s what makes it, I suppose, a successful business is that it’s a good environment for everybody.
You can follow Semper Tattoo here on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
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Claire Hamil was tattooing centuries old biblical themes today, of Michael and the angels fighting the devil, which was a metaphor for the client. They both also agreed that sometimes, tattoos are just a way to appreciate and display amazing art on your body, and that they don’t always have a deeper meaning. Claire always works in black and white, and you can see more of her art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairehamill/
Joanne Baker specialises in watercolour, which she fell into by chance as the style became more popular. Today she was inking a client’s beloved cat, on the shoulder the cat loves to hold on to and scratch most. Both client and artist were huge animal lovers, and discussed the differing reactions people give to pet tattoos based on whether they love pets themselves too or not. We loved chatting with Joanne and her client because we’re big fans of highlighting the importance of pet love and company too! You can check out Joanne’s style on: https://www.instagram.com/milky_tattoodles/?hl=en
Chris Morris is a Disney tattoo specialist, and was working on a large Maleficent piece for his client the day we met him. His client was a huge Disney aficionado, who had a large Sleeping Beauty tattoo already set to match her new piece on her other leg, and the line “a dream is a wish your heart makes” across the back of her legs — a personal motto. You can see Chris’s Disney tatts here: https://www.instagram.com/chrismorristattoos/?hl=en
Josie Deacon
Josie grew up in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness, in a busy household with two older brothers, a cat, and a dog. She left school at 17 and moved to Newcastle, where she studied Drama and Scriptwriting at Northumbria University. University was the making of Josie, she got involved with a lot of film and theatre, becoming president of the Drama Society, the Scriptwriting Society, and producing, directing and acting in several short films for student film companies. After graduation Josie moved to Edinburgh with her cat, Twiggy, and started to look for work. Having no desire to work in drama professionally, Josie started working in administration, then got involved with Fearless Femme as a contributor. Josie was thrilled when her application for the role of Digital Media Manager was successful.
As Digital Media Manager, Josie is the voice of Fearless Femme, creating connections with the Rebelles and the public. She spends her day shouting to the world about what we’re up to and she loves it when people shout back.
When not at work, Josie loves to write, play video games and Dungeons and Dragons and also volunteers with animal welfare projects. Josie loves all animals but squirrels are her favourite. You can contact her at josie@fearlessly.co.uk.
Ellen Desmond
Ellen Desmond grew up in Ireland, where she worked at editorial and project management level on various magazines and publications aimed at students. She was awarded the title of Ireland’s Best Student Editor in 2016, just before she moved to Edinburgh to complete an MSc in Publishing. While writing her dissertation, she co-edited and published a popular anthology about bisexuality. She is a passionate intersectional feminist, and an advocate of mental health reform and LGBTQ+ rights.
As Assistant Editor she is responsible for commissioning and editing great content for Fearless Femme, and conducting research on the mental health of young people to support the social mission of Fearless Femme.
In her spare time, Ellen loves reading and trying to prove that she’s read more than you. She also loves activism, art, going to music gigs and, more occasionally, skydiving. She hates oranges and spiders. You can contact her at ellen@fearlessly.co.uk.
