From a shy kid sketching to confidently working conventions. Meet Tattoodo artist Trey Noir.

Where did your passion for tattooing begin? Was there a particular moment or time you first felt drawn to the art?

My passion for tattooing began very early. I was only 5 years old when I had my first interaction with someone heavily tattooed, a dad at my primary school. He noticed me looking at his tattoos and was kind enough to show me them while talking me through how they’re done and with my existing fondness for drawing from that moment I knew what I wanted to do with my life.  

Does your tattoo style say anything about who you are as a person?

I’d say my tattoo style is very representative of me as a person, I care a lot about people and notice subtleties that other people tend to miss. I prefer things to feel real and authentic which lends itself to the realism and micro realism I tattoo most, I’m quite empathetic and I think that shows in that I strive to make my tattoos evoke emotion as opposed to being purely decorative, I’m naturally patient and drawn towards things that feel meaningful. 

If you had to pick, what's one of your favourite pieces you've tattooed?

Oooo tough question, there have been so many for so many different reasons but I think I would probably go for the cheetah in motion I tattooed a few months ago on my client Conors inner bicep. It was his first tattoo which is an experience I always take pride in being a part of and he picked this design from flash that I created last year while striving to portray a sense of movement in a still image. It was a challenge to make both parts of the tattoo stand out while not having one overpower the other and I was so happy with the final result it was so well received it put a temporary hold on my imposter syndrome haha.

Has there been one particular moment in your tattooing career that you're most proud of?

I would probably say working a convention. I grew up a very shy, introvert and it took me a long time to feel confident to be myself and not hide my personality. I went a bit of scenic route to get into an industry I dreamed of since being 5 years old and didn’t start tattooing until I was 28. Working a convention, confidently talking with other artists and spectators represented how far I had come from the shy quiet kid who mainly expressed himself through his artwork. 

Many artists have a philosophy about their work or why they create. Do you have one?

We are surrounded by beauty in the world and much of it is visual. Life comes with a lot of pressures and art is such a huge form of expression, it gives so many people a voice. I like to give people a vessel through which they can express themselves and feel confident in their bodies. Having the opportunity to connect with so many people and create beautiful artwork that can be transformative is such a privilege, I guess I create to evoke emotion in n others and allow others to feel confident.

What are your favourite parts about the tattoo industry, and how do you feel about its future?

I love the culture of being a creative in such a unique space, I really don’t think there’s another career like being a Tattoo Artist. The connections we create with people within as little as a few hours can sometimes makes us feel like therapists and you can only really understand what it is to be a Tattoo Artist by doing it. Naturally the industry becomes competitive but I think at their core most artists just strive to become as good as they can. I really enjoy the fact we can connect on experiences, philosophies and we all share that unique experience of being perfectionists while knowing we can never fully achieve it. 

I’m excited by the future of tattooing, social media has made the world feel smaller and every week I see new concepts and ways to portray artwork on skin. I’ve really been enjoying the advancements within the industry and the growth of education and sharing knowledge amongst artists. 

Again, the competitive side remains but I feel there is a growing sense of community among likeminded artists who like to learn, grow and help others. It’s been great to see things like seminars really take off and allow artists to meet and learn from those they look up to and advancements in technology allow for us to use machines that can basically be customised on the fly which lends itself to creating the best artwork possible for clients.

How do you handle the booking side of things day-to-day? Has your workflow changed much since you started using Tattoodo?

I have a very chaotic mind and from drawing up designs to creating content and replying to messages it can feel as though you’re work is never done so I’ve been working hard to be less ADHD and more organised. Previously I had enquiries from numerous places so Tattoodo has significantly contributed to me to finding a better balance with my admin and bookings, having an organised and well laid out platform has made my workflow a lot smoother and improved my efficiency.

Do you have any projects, events or plans coming up that you'd like to share?

Last year in an effort to escape from always drawing on my iPad I went back to sketching on paper and even built up a collection of hand drawn flash designs centering around a few of my passions, film, tv and music. I’ve decided I’d like to display these and allow people to appreciate them so I’m currently exploring showcasing them in an art exhibition somewhere in London, nothing finalised yet but keep your eyes peeled and i’ll be sure to post any updates once I have them.