Conversations with Ally

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ally .

Hi Ally, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been an artist specializing in portraits and occult subjects. I’ve been tattooing for 15 years. I started in a street shop as an apprentice. I worked my way around, enjoying traveling and meeting different people before settling at an incredible studio in southwest London. I specialize in the tattoos that people want, providing a service, and always want people to have a positive experience. Being raised in street shops made me a well-rounded and unpretentious tattoo worker. It’s important to detach the ego from the tattoos I create. It’s not about me. And when I feel a bit stuck or uninspired, I know I can spend the night creating the art I want and need that feeds my soul. Don’t get me wrong, I adore tattooing, but I’ve developed a much healthier relationship with it over the years. Frank Zappa said, “I think that any artistic decision that is based on whether or not you are going to make money is not an artistic decision. It’s a business decision.”

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Tattooing is a tough gig. When I first started, my clients were mostly bikers and travelers. You learn quickly to do a good tattoo for a fair price. I experienced a reasonable amount of sexism initially, but 15 years in the industry is a totally different place to be. I’m old school, but I appreciate the more open and inclusive landscape. I live with mental illness, which always makes life spicier. As I’ve grown, I’ve developed much healthier coping methods, mostly painting and being in nature. There’s the potential for a lot of partying and burnout in the tattooing world, and I’m thankful I got myself together in the end.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Maybe copy and paste some bits from the previous answers, haha. I am most known for portraits, film and tv fan art, occult subjects, surrealism, and distortion. I am currently in love with oil paint but also work in pencil, pastels, watercolor, and digital. Tattoo wise I do a lot of realistic blacks and grey work, mandalas, floral work, and whatever the flavor of the month might be! I am known for being a friendly, laid-back tattooist; people often comment on how comfortable they feel and that “I’ve made the tattoo exactly how they’ve imagined it,” that’s important for me. I have a varied and extensive portfolio of tattoo work, and it is always an honor to mark somebody’s skin, something they will carry with them for the rest of their days.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
You make your luck. Please take all the opportunities that come your way because they won’t always happen again. I wish I had more confidence to put myself out there when I was younger, but I suffered badly from imposter syndrome. The best thing about getting older is caring less and doing more. Positive manifestation will help. If you think you’re no good and bad things always happen to you, that’s the world you’re going to make for yourself.

Pricing:

• Ongoing tattoo work is £90 per hour
• Tattoo minimum charge is £50
• Art commissions are priced by subject and medium
• Art prints start at £10

Contact Info:

• Website: noartnoheart.bigcartel.com
• Instagram: @noart_noheart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tigerbraintattoouk
• Other: @_noartnoheart_ on TikTok