What’s your favourite type of tattoo to create, and why? 

“The deep answer: anything that tests my creativity and skills, something that helps me grow as an artist and teaches me new, exciting things. The less “deep” answer: food! I love tattooing food. Maybe because I’m a foodie, or maybe it’s just fun and joyful. Nothing too serious… I mean, who doesn’t love a bowl of spaghetti? ”

Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a custom tattoo? 

“It starts with me trying to fully understand my client’s idea, making sure we’re both on the same page. That trust is the most important part. I always ask for as many reference pictures as possible, sketches, doodles (I love my clients’ drawings, I keep them, hehe), anything that helps me understand what the key elements are. Once the sketch is done, I send the drawings to my client, usually the day before the appointment. I don’t think more time is needed. If you’re sure about the idea, you’ll know if you like the design. That’s also their time to request changes, which I don’t mind-it’s their tattoo and they’ll be “wearing it” forever (hopefully!). We aim to find the sweet spot where both parties are happy: I’m proud of the tattoo that represents my art, and the client feels that their idea has come to life.”

How do you collaborate with clients to bring their ideas to life? 

“This part is hard. It’s not always easy to explain why certain ideas won’t work. For someone who has no knowledge of the technical side of tattooing, it can be difficult to understand why their artist says “no.” Sometimes it takes a lot of emails, back and forth, and even changes on the day. But I won’t tattoo anything until my client is certain that it’s their design. There have been nights when I’ve drawn the same design 5–6 times to make sure it matches what they envisioned.”

What’s the most challenging part of creating a tattoo, and how do you overcome it? 

“The most challenging part of my style is keeping a realistic look at such a small scale. I want everything to look as lifelike as possible, but of course, there are limitations within the skin. It grows, shrinks, ages, lives and breathes, so not everything is possible. I have to keep in mind that tattoos change over time, and that’s the hardest part I’m still learning and exploring: ensuring it still looks stunning for years to come, while maintaining that realism.”

Do you have any rituals or routines before starting a tattoo session? 

“Not really, though I always make sure my client is relaxed before we start. I usually crack a joke or start rambling about my day, my cat, or a silly story to shift their focus from the needle. Especially with first-time clients, it helps! In my humble opinion, I’m hilarious.”

What was the first tattoo you ever did, and how did it go? 

“The first tattoo was actually the most chilled experience ever… and then everything went downhill, haha. It was a little outline of a lightning bolt on the amazing tattooist Nik Costas, who was guesting at the studio where I was apprenticing. He walked me through the whole process-setup, tattooing, and cleaning the station afterwards. It was a calm, fairly quick session. I loved it!”

What’s been your most memorable tattoo project so far? 

“There are a few I’ll remember forever. First was a Freddie Mercury tattoo I did in 2021, one of my first fully realistic portraits of a recognisable character. Another was the first time I tattooed my dad. He was completely against tattoos before I started tattooing, so that was a big moment. And recently, I did a 10-hour session on a larger piece-my first big session in years due to a shoulder injury. Rose, who trusted me completely, sat like a rock! It was her first tattoo, too. That one was special; it marked my return after years of pain and physiotherapy. Now I’m back and can’t wait for more big, creative pieces. ”

How has your style evolved since you started tattooing? 

“Massively, in my opinion. I started with more of a watercolour style, classic splashes of colour with outlines. Then I dropped the outlines and splashes, and small realistic pieces began to emerge. Slowly but surely, my tattoos began to bloom. Textures, water, clouds, and colour blending all started to appear more naturally. The realistic effect came through more each year. I’m still learning and developing daily. As an artist, you can’t stop growing—that’s not how it works.”

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the tattoo industry? 

“Work hard. Very few people “get it” from day one. Work, learn, listen! Listen to other artists, business owners, studio managers, be interested in the craft. But also remember to filter what you hear and be yourself. Don’t expect anything from anyone. Find your own way. Find your style. Keep your eyes and ears open.”

If you could tattoo any design on anyone in the world, who and what would it be? 

“Oh my! So many possibilities… Honestly, I don’t know. There are so many people I’d love to tattoo, just to spend time with them and have an interesting conversation. One person who keeps popping into my head is Sir Anthony Hopkins. I wouldn’t even care about the tattoo; just having a conversation with him would be a mind-blowing experience.”

What’s one tattoo trend you love right now, and one you could do without? 

“In general, I’m all about: Do you, Boo. Everyone should do what makes them happy, as long as it makes both them and their artist feel good. Of course, there’s a firm “no” to offensive or hateful tattoos.”

Do you have a favourite tattoo on your own body? What’s the story behind it? 

“It’s hard to choose. None of my tattoos have a meaning; they’re mostly a collection done by talented friends. But I think one of my favourites is a set of four little hearts in different colours, done by my husband when he was learning how to tattoo. It’s small but cute, and it reminds me of him every day. My second favourite is my little goat tattoo! I love this one, it’s a tiny goat wearing a knitted jumper. His name is Mieczysław.”

If you weren’t a tattoo artist, what do you think you’d be doing? 

“Wow, I mean, I already had a nice, long dancing career. I spent over 20 years on stage, learning, dancing, travelling, and performing. Now I’m tattooing, which is also very creative, and I think I’d keep following that creative path. I’ve recently started learning photography, which I enjoy. Or again, in my humble opinion, I think I’d be amazing as a comedic actress, haha.”

What’s a dream project or design you’d love to work on? 

“I’d love to create bigger pieces, full-body compositions, in colour or black and grey - I don’t mind. Still within my style, but on a larger, more creative scale. Something to look forward to and continue over time.”

Where do you see your art going in the next few years? 

“Honestly, I don’t know. I hope I’ll still be loving what I do and still progressing. Maybe I’ll discover new places, new cities, new countries, and meet new people. Explore new ways of tattooing and new ways to juggle social media with real life!”

Are there any new techniques or tools you’re excited to try out? 

“It might sound boring, but I’d love to return to simple line work. With my style, I don’t often get to do clean, straight lines, and now, after years, the idea makes me sweat! We all know that straight lines are anything but simple. In terms of tools, I’m always open to trying new things. You never know what might work better for you. I’d love to try new colour inks from different brands, the new Prime Black ink, and I know I’m late to the game, but I’ve never tried TATTOO SPRAY, and I’m curious about how it works. Honestly, I’m quite excited for whatever the future brings. Technology is moving so quickly that anything feels possible now. I mean, who would have thought we’d have wireless machines?”

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