Unearthing the Stories: How Iceland and the World Shaped my tattoo philosophy.
People often ask me why I gravitate toward the ancient, the Nordic, and the mythic. Why do I spend my days channelling runes, Celtic knots, and the sagas of old into skin?
The answer isn’t just in the artwork, it’s in the journey. My path to becoming a tattoo artist didn't start in a studio; it started in the world, tracing the edges of different cultures and mythologies.
A Childhood of Wanderlust
Growing up in the Caribbean, I was already fascinated by stories that were larger than life. The ocean, the myths, and the sheer scale of the natural world in those climates planted a seed of curiosity in me. That curiosity led to a lifetime of travel, the history surrounding the Bahamas, the original Taino and Arawak people, to the vibrant, deep-rooted history of Mexico to the rugged, native Americans to the British Isles and the silent majesty of Iceland.
Everywhere I went, I looked for the "old" stories. I found that no matter where you are in the world, humans have always needed symbols to capture the power of the natural world and the weight of their own history.
The Icelandic Crucible
If my travels were the spark, Iceland was the furnace. Living there changed me. It is a place where the landscape—volcanic, windswept, and haunting—demands respect. You don't just "see" an Icelandic mountain; you feel the presence of the trolls and the spirits of the sagas in the shadows.
It was there, standing under the aurora borealis, that the connection between the land and the ink became clear to me. I started capturing those landscapes through my photography, realizing that the jagged textures of the mountains, the dark basalt, and the ethereal light were the same language as the Nordic art I wanted to create.
Living the Myth
This isn't just about aesthetic. It’s about a way of life. Embracing the pagan ethos, an acknowledgment of the cycles of nature, the strength of the spirit, and the depth of our ancestors has become the foundation of how I work. When I sit down to design a piece for you, I’m not just putting ink on skin. I’m trying to channel that same sense of awe I felt in the Icelandic highlands, or the wonder I felt discovering ancient stories in my youth.
My work is an extension of those travels and those memories. Whether it’s a Nordic rune or a complex mythological scene, I’m looking to help you carry a piece of that ancient, wild world with you.
"Ready to start your own piece? Let’s tell your story. Book a consultation with me, head over to bookings.
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