A conversation with Jay Rose, new interviews every Monday.

During Covid-19 you did drawing club live on instagram weekly which was such an amazing way to engage with people online during such a scary time. Is this something you’re wanting to continue with now work schedules are going back? Was it something you’d considered doing for some time before covid happened?

Oh my god I loved it so much. It was such a grounding tool for me over lockdown and absolutely made me feel connected to everyone. Initially I was going to end them when I returned to work but I missed the session so much that now I do them once a month but now over Zoom. This is actually better for me as I can see everyone and interact with everyone far more easily.

I’d never thought of doing something like this before lockdown happened. I had the idea when leaving the studio for the last time. I usually tattoo three to four people a day and one of my most favourite things about this job is the interaction I have with my customers. The thought of not having that for an unspecified amount of time quite scary to me so I wanted to do something that would keep that connection going. 

Do you feel like the time off during covid helped your creativity? Spending time with your family and taking the time to re-charge did you find yourself wanting to start any new projects you’d previously put on hold or did you just try to really focus on the time off with your loved ones?

Yes absolutely, I really feel like this time helped with my creativity. Because of the art sessions I was drawing so much. However, as I was teaching people how to draw, it made me totally reassess my work. I felt like my own work improved because of it. I had to break down every image into sections and this made me rethink my methods in a way I don’t think would have happened otherwise. 

Also, through these classes, I was asked to do them with schools and an addiction charity every week. They have given me opportunity to reach a new audience that I wouldn’t have met just through tattooing. 

The time I had with my daughter was absolutely incredible too. I was in a highly privileged position in the fact that I wasn’t working so was able to spend so much time with her. We did some art projects together too and this creativity has continued after lockdown. I think we will also make art together now in some for or another. 

You’re known for your botanical and wildlife tattoos, was this always the direction your work leaned towards?

Natural history has always been my jam. Ever since I was younger than my daughter I was obsessed. I actually still have my drawings from back then, there are a lot of skulls! Initially, when I first started tattooing, I would draw a lot more dinosaur bones and fossils but as I continued I notified I was drawing flowers more and more. I just find flowers fucking amazing. There are so many botanical artists out there but everyone has their own stamp on it. They’re so versatile.

Looking back at the earlier years in your career, what's something you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?

Not to listen if other artists don’t like your work. Who cares? If you and your customers are happy then that’s all that matters. We are artists and we grow and develop, that’s an exciting thing.

Who were your main influences when you were learning to tattoo/who are they now?

When I first started tattooing Sarah Schor was my idol. AND NOW SHES MY FRIEND. Sorry (not sorry).  I also loved and still very much do, Scott Move, Dan Morris and. Mostly black work artists, which nearly ten years ago, wasn’t as common as it is now. These artists gave me the confidence to keep tattooing the way I was in a world that, at the time, was very much colour traditional.  I’m also lolling at the fact that I’ve made all these people be my friends now. 

These days my feed is awash with inspiration. Yourself included, there are so many wonderful botanical artists absolutely killing it. So many women too. Artists I implore you to check out are Butter Stinker, Ashley Tyson and Adam Ruff. Three completely different artists but all completely killing it at what they do.

As a mother you naturally have such a maternal touch, which is extremely comforting when getting tattooed. Especially given a lot of your clients are younger girls and women, how do you feel tattooers can continue to have an open dialog and express the issues regarding the misconduct in the industry in order to keep our clients safe?

Oh Jay! That’s so sweet of you, thank you. 

It’s our moral obligation to ensure the safety and comfort of our clients. Tattoos are fucking painful and can be scary so we need to create a space where they can relax and feel in control. When I hear about the things coming out of the industry i am sickened. The absolute abuse of power is wretched and I hope every single one of them gets exposed.

We, as artists, need to feel that we can call out behaviour safely and properly. There are a couple of Instagram accounts doing this at the moment. Also, Angelique Houtcamp and Fidjit have been two artists I’ve noticed being incredibly vocal about abusers in tattooing. I’d like to see more men involved with this too. All artists should be standing together against abusers.

Tattooing is such an intimate experience, within moments you are touching another person's skin. For a lot of people getting tattooed is a release and links to personal stories/memories. Have there been any experiences you really treasure with your clients/stories that stand out to you still?

Jay the amount of times I have cried with a customer... you’re absolutely right, it’s such an intimate experience. It’s an honour to be part of that moment. 

I think it’s hard not get emotionally entangled in it when the person you’re tattooing is sharing something with you. Your creation is helping them heal in many respects.  

I’m always blown away by people’s strength. Many times the customer hasn’t said why they’re getting the piece and they talk about it during the session. I’m always very thankful and grateful if they do.

One of the most memorable moments for me when when I was contacted by a woman who’s daughter I had tattooed. She was reaching out because her daughter had passed away and she wanted to get tattooed by the same artists she had. This woman’s strength was unbelievable, she was so incredible. I’m not going to go into anymore detail but I will never forget them both. 

You recently released a book (congratulations) tiny tattoos, how did this come to be? Was a book something you’d really aimed to do within your career?

Ah thank you! I’d always wanted there to be something for everyone. I’m aware that some tattooists hate the idea of small tattoos but i think everyone should get what they want (within reason). I tattoo a lot of first timers and sometimes people just want a small tattoo. It’s like a stepping stone into body art. 

The publishers actually contacted me with a slightly different idea so I took the opportunity to do something I wanted to do and they were into it! It’s wild when I stop and thinking about it actually. My mum cried. 

What are we going to do when David Attenborough dies?

Have him tattooed on my side to mirror Stephen Fry.