Tattoo Artist Nigel Kurt - The Best in the UK

Nigel Kurt started his tattooing career in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He opened his own studio, Fun House Tattoos in Barnsley in 1993. Nigel is well known for his black and grey work and has won many awards over the years.

A tattoo artist from South Yorkshire has been named Best UK Male by the UK Tattoo Industry.

Barnsley tattoo artist Nigel Kurt, who has run Fun House Tattoos since 1993, said he was "chuffed" when presented with the award on 15 May in Liverpool.

Mr Kurt said he did not like tattoos when he was younger but he changed his mind after seeing the work of American tattoo artist Jack Rudy.

"He more-or-less invented portrait in tattoos," he said.

Mr Kurt specialises in photorealism, creating tattoos to look like pencil drawings, using black and grey inks.

His work ranges from colour tattoos of well known characters, including ITV's Coronation Street character Hilda Ogden, through to people requesting a drawing of their loved ones - including parents, children and pets.

Mr Kurt who has worked in the industry for 20 years has had many requests for tattoos but there are some areas of the body he will not work on.

"We don't tattoo faces and we don't do hands either. If someone comes in with something that won't make a nice tattoo, we won't do it."

The shop has seen a rise in inquiries since body art became popular with celebrities, including pop star Cheryl Cole and footballer, David Beckham.

"Every week we get at least one or two people coming into the shop asking for copies of David Beckham's tattoos," said Mr Kurt.

"There are hundreds of people walking around with copies of celebrity tattoos."

Despite receiving the award, Mr Kurt said it would not change him.

"Once I stand out that shop I'm just a slightly scruffy man walking down the street," he said.

To contact: 01226 779595

Or visit the shop which is located at:
Fun House Tattoos
140 Sheffield road
Barnsley
S70 1JH


Sources
La Sumisa
BBC News


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Aldo Distefano's Five Tattoo Commandments

Aldo Distefano is a living art. With his body emblazoned completely with tattoos, the artist has been decorating people's bodies for more than a decade. As skin is his canvas, the American tattoo artist is excited about setting up shop and a learning school in the country.

He reveals that the reason why tattoos have always been such a rage is because mankind since the beginning has been obsessed with permanence. "Though tattoos are usually associated with biker boys and rebellion, our ancestors were also infatuated with body art. Be it cross, skull, wedding band or Chinese characters, tattoos have always been a way of expressing yourself. And even if you don't know what you want, you do want one (tattoo) on your body."

From celebs to your neighborhood hunk, tattoos have become the perfect style statement. But before you get into the chair, remember, "Your body is your temple, decorate it wisely."

Aldo's Five Commandments:

1)Hygiene factor: You don't want to get a tattoo done in doctor's cabin but make sure that the place is hygienic and the needles, equipment and gloves are sterilized.

2)Artist's Portfolio: You might get awed by the attractive designs on the tattoo parlor wall, but before you let the guy give you a permanent tattoo, make sure you know his style and his work experience.

3)Significance: It's going to be there for life, so make sure you don't get something you regret a few years down the line. Your current girlfriend/boyfriend's name might seem like the right thing now, but few years down the time, you might have to cover it up.

4)Diet: While you might think going their drunk might lessen the sensation- it's not a good idea as alcohol thins out the blood and you'll end up bleeding more. Better would be to carry a chocolate to give you instant energy.

5)Post tattoo care: Yeah, you are eager to see the tattoo in its full glory but give it at least two weeks time to heal. Put water based creams instead of petroleum (vaseline) products. And do not pick or scratch the scabs.


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Pramod K. - Tattoo Artist

This may well be called Kochi Ink. For those of you who have drooled at the many tattoos and tattooists on Miami Ink or LA Ink, and yearn to ink your self, Black Art is your chance.

Black Art is a Panampilly Nagar-based tattoo studio run by Pramod K. Is tattooing all that popular here? If that's what you are thinking, then Pramod's answer is a resounding yes!

The Unseen factor

So your next question should be - How come we don't see anyone sporting tattoos except maybe the ‘odd' actress? That's because most people get tattoos where people cannot see them and according to him, the most unlikely of people sport tattoos. And we've just got to take his word for it because he runs two tattoo studios in the city, and has an experience of around six years in the business.

A trained graphic designer, Pramod stumbled on to tattooing. A six-month course in Malaysia and he was ready to ‘ink', and the logical choice was setting up a tattoo shop in Fort Kochi, given the traffic of overseas tourists. That was six years back. Black Art is his second tattoo studio.

Getting a tattoo is not as simple as bracing yourself for the pain (that is of course there). Clarity is one and being of voting age is important. One cannot get a tattoo juts like that. It is like on Miami/LA Ink, a tattoo is the result of discussions between Pramod and prospective ‘tattoo-ee'. “There has to be clarity; for both parties involved. The design and dimensions are put down on paper, and shown to the client. Only then do we proceed.” Every aspect is worked down to the last minute detail. “It avoids hassles later, of all kinds,” Pramod says, with a laugh. A tattoo is forever…because getting it off is tough and expensive.

Tattoo is personal art which in the past was associated with deviant or socially unacceptable behaviour. There are some who frown upon tattoos, but it is generally acceptable. “Families come together even if it is just one member (usually male) getting a tattoo. It has to be okayed by all families before the design gets a go ahead.” And inevitably another member gets a tattoo as well, ‘but that's generally married couples.'

Very personal

Personal iconography – images or symbols that are important to a person find expression through tattoos. For instance religious icons (Ganesha is popular) or symbols or images associated with love (sweetheart's name etc) and even those relating to one's profession find expression through ink. Tribal designs are popular, then there are angels, butterflies, flowers etc. By the way if you have thinning eyebrows or scars on your eyebrows you can get a tattoo and cover it up. Or if you want a beauty spot , Pramod will do that too.

The ink, Pramod says, is vegetable dyes, and these are permanent (unlike on garments where they run for their lives) since the ink is inserted on the second layer of the skin. He warns against tattoo joints, the fly by night kind, where a combination of henna and hair-dye is used as tattoo ink.

Doctors, software professionals, those working in the hospitality industry, housewives, college students….talking to Pramod it sounds like everyone's getting a tattoo. And when so many people are doing something there are bound to be stories, stories galore. Some are outright hilarious. For instance a girl who is to be married or engaged in a couple of days was brought to his studio. She had a tattoo of her now ex-boyfriend's name or initials and the parents wanted it off. In comes cover-up tattoos, meant for love gone awry and botched up tattoos.

There are many ways of getting a tattoo done, it all depends on how you look at it, literally. “When you look at it one way it will be your name, read it from another angle it will be someone else's name.” Getting tattooed is addictive, there are people who keep coming back for more.

A peek into his tattoo studio puts to rest doubts about the cleanliness and hygiene of the whole process. It would give most medical clinics a run for their money. The room where the tattoo is done is sterile and clean. He imports the equipment required for tattooing. The needles once used are destroyed and the entire machinery is then dismantled and sterilised. He even got health department officials to inspect the premises and made the minor changes they recommended.

Talking of needles, the needles are three point, five point, seven point etc. There won't be three or five needles that the tattoo artist will jab you with, these are very fine needles which the lay person will not know or doesn't need to know. The design decides how many needle points will go into you. Is it very painful? “No, just a wee bit,” says Pramod. A tattoo needs to be looked after initially, till it gets under your skin.

There are painless tattoos, which are temporary. But Pramod does not offer these off the counter. “If it is for specific purpose like a photo shoot or film shoot I will do it. Otherwise no!” How long each temporary tattoo will last depends on the skin type. Some wear off faster and some last, and… let's just say he likes peace.

Filing it all

He has a meticulous system of ‘filing' each tattoo. Each tattoo has been photographed and catalogued. “This is expensive. So some people come and get it done in instalments and I need to know the continuity, and other details about the work to avoid confusion.” A three sq. inch tattoo at Black Art costs Rs. 2,000. Then how come the man who holds forth on tattoos does not sport a single spot of ink? He says he is waiting for his tattoo Master, an expert of the Yakuza genre of tattoos, to do it for him.


Sources
La Sumisa
The Hindu


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