00:16My name is Grant, I'm a tattooer and owner of Good As Gold Tattoos in Rochford and my
00:20preferred style is black and grey realism slash surrealism.
00:25My name's Louise and I specialise in fine line and floral work.
00:30How long have you been tattooing for?
00:31I've been tattooing for 16 years which makes me feel incredibly old.
00:35This is my fifth year tattooing so just over four years.
00:38What led you to begin tattooing?
00:40Always been arty as kids, 80s baby, no computers or phones so I was always encouraged to draw.
00:46My grandad was a painter, his dad was a painter, brother was a great artist so yeah just kind
00:51of all we had to do as kids.
00:53I was always fascinated with tattoos growing up as a kid.
00:57It was Covid that kind of gave me the push because growing up it was always going to
01:03a safe option but I realised life is too short and I can't wait for it.
01:07What would you say the studio prides itself on?
01:10The shop is known for and prides itself on being really friendly and welcoming, making
01:16people feel at home and giving them a nice safe environment to get tattooed in.
01:20Friendliness and home away from home, no one wants to feel tense, everyone can just come
01:26in and relax, have a cup of tea and coffee, specialise in tea and coffee.
01:32How important is having a comfortable studio to you?
01:35It's hugely important, it's the most important thing, getting tattooed is daunting enough
01:39as it is without being in a shop that makes you feel uncomfortable and it's the reason
01:43a lot of people come back here.
01:44They've had experiences at other studios where they've not felt comfortable, had a good tattoo
01:49but it's more than just a tattoo, it's about being comfortable where you are.
01:52Probably more important than anything because I mean even myself I feel like especially as
02:00a young woman in today's society it is very easy just with anxieties and stuff like that
02:06going into a new space and feeling comfortable and getting tattooed is a very vulnerable and
02:10special moment. So I think if you can have a safe and comfortable space that is more important
02:16than even the tattooing sometimes. It's yeah, it's a really really big thing for me, really big thing.
02:23How do you think Good As Gold tattoos compares to other studios you've been to?
02:28Well I have followed Grant, so I've known Grant for about 12 years and he used to work in another
02:36studio which I had originally had my first tattoos in but Good As Gold is comforting, relaxing,
02:45I just find it so easy just to walk in, they offer you coffee, they're just friendly, everyone chats,
02:52the clients will chat to each other, it's just a really really nice environment to just
02:56walk into and it doesn't feel, it just feels nice.
03:03Was there ever a time when you considered having a tattoo removed?
03:07Never, nope.
03:09What about getting one covered up?
03:11I've had a cover up, one it was basically it was when I had my daughter's name tattooed,
03:20the flower had really faded and wasn't looking very nice so I kind of had it
03:24covered up with a bigger flower to make it look nicer.
03:27What generation do you feel have embraced having tattoos the most and why do you think this?
03:32It's changed massively over 16 years, it used to be the whole 18 to 30, mainly males,
03:38then it went from a bit of a mix of both, now you never know who's going to walk through
03:42the door,
03:42I think it's pretty much accessible to all generations now.
03:45Obviously the younger generation now it's very popular to get the patchwork and all the little
03:51ones but I do feel as though the older generation, 40s, 60 range is coming in getting the more
03:59meaningful ones because maybe when they were younger tattoos weren't as popular, they wasn't a thing
04:04and now they now they're popular and in today's society everywhere you go they're really coming in
04:10and getting the meaningful ones which I guess.
04:12You
04:23you
