A conversation with Jay Rose, new interviews every Monday.

Before we go any further I have to ask where Tiger Titz came from? It makes me laugh every time I see it and it honestly really fits you as a person in the most outlandish way.

Honestly, The name Tiger Titz just started as a joke! I was fooling around with a friend and thought it sounded utterly ridiculous. I just wanted to use it for a while until I came up with something more professional, and then it just ended up sticking and now I guess it’s too far gone! I love it though. You’re right, I think it does capture the essence of me as a person- a real big idiot who just likes to laugh all the time. I was working the Leeds convention a few years back and all the artists were checking in and getting their passes, it came to my turn and I was like “its Anna-Claire blah blah” and they were like “nope, sorry. No one here with that name” and then I sheepishly said “um, maybe under Tiger Titz” and the staff all burst out laughing and what do you know… there it was! I think it was at that moment that I realized I was stuck with it!

We’ve spoken a lot about your life back in South Africa and the differences in how we grew up. How do you think growing up where you did effected your work ethic and outlook on life?

Yeah totally, growing up in South Africa definitely molded me, my inspirations and my work. I grew up in a really small Beachy town called Durban. Everyone is pretty much a surfer dad and wears Billabong! It’s always really hot with a super tropical climate. It’s surrounded by lush green vegetation, palm trees, costal beach strips as far as the eye can see and lots of monkeys. Everyone in the UK is always shocked when I tell them that it’s super common to see vervet monkeys in Durban. They use to come into the house all the time and steal the fruit, or just hang out in the garden and groom each other. I think that’s why I draw and tattoo a lot of jungle scenes, florals and tropical animals because it’s what I’ve grown up drawing inspiration from my whole life. I use to go on walks through this jungle path that leads onto the beach and that for me was always pure bliss. I really miss it and can’t wait to visit again. With regards to how Durban has molded my work ethic and outlook on life, I think because it’s a pretty small place, everyone is very genuine and appreciates the simple things in life. I grew up being humble, hard working and genuine. I give everyone the time of day and never have any ego bullshit! There never has and never will be room for that in my life. This has a lot to do with the relaxed Durban attitude and growing up under my parents roof! They’re super lovely, down to earth and relaxed.

You recently moved to London, how are you finding the adjustment tattooing there opposed to tattooing back in South Africa? Are there any obvious differences between the styles you see more of in either place?

Sorry for making all these answers so bloody long! I’ve just had a strong coffee and now I’m like a major keyboard pianist, haha! Tattooing in London has been really great. I’m lucky to have quickly made a little client base and settled in really nicely. I get to tattoo way more of my own stuff here than back home and I think that’s largely to do with the fact that EVERYONE here is tattooed and there’s a bigger market for tattoos due to London being so huge. Clients here seem more open to just picking flash and getting something spontaneous that the artist really wants to do! The major difference between tattooing in SA vs London is that there are so so many tattooers in London so you constantly feel like you need to work really hard and produce something different that stands out from the next person. That’s why my work seems to do a bit better here because I think I do offer something unique! (I always feel like I sound so so lame when I say that) Tattooing in London is very fast paced and you’ve gotta step up or step out! South Africa has a couple really great shops with talented artists who I can’t wait to visit when I’m back, I owe it all to my friends back home who taught me and let me work or guest at their studios. 

 You have one of the most distinctive styles of drawing and painting I’ve come across, its such a hybrid of traditional tattooing and illustrative work. Have you always drawn and painted in this way?

Thanks my baby! That’s such a nice compliment, I really appreciate that.

When I started drawing loads specifically for tattoos, I was overwhelmed with inspiration by so many different things. I think I just merged a bunch of my inspirations together and came out with this style! Im heavily inspired by the female form, tropical animals (especially tigers and monkeys), interesting florals and foliage, tribal pattern work from around the world especially Africa, old Japanese woodblock prints, Tibetan motifs, and south Asian paintings. This is largely due to growing up in such a diverse country that allowed me to appreciate so many cultures working and living together. Fun fact, there are 11 official different languages in South africa! It truly is a magical place and it’s no wonder people call it the ‘Rainbow Nation’. 

As for the application, it’s routed in traditional tattooing. I like a fine line and controlled whip shading. 

As for my painting, I only recently started painting in acrylics during lockdown and got super loose and folky with it! Its now my absolute favorite hobby!

What was your earlier work like when you started tattooing?

So, this is my 4th year tattooing and I guess you could say my work is just more refined now. I was always into the kind of imagery that I portray in my work and have always been inspired by traditional tattoos- they’re the only tattoos I have collected on myself so I always knew the things I liked the look of. My work was a bit more heavy black, bolder lines and more American traditional imagery like daggers and panthers and love hearts but still with a Tiger Titz twist! When I look back to my first year I’m like “shit…what was I doing” haha! But ya live and ya learn, right?

During lockdown you painted constantly, do you feel that having the time to re group helped you creatively or hindered your process?

During lockdown I was a painting machine! I don’t know what came over me! I just felt incredibly inspired and I’d been wanting to paint with acrylics for a while but between tattooing and just day to day responsibilities, it was kinda put on the back burner. So I totally seized the opportunity when lockdown came around and made some work. They were really fun to make and it felt great to work with acrylics again. I think the last time I painted like that was in school for an art assignment! I really like my alone time, I luckily feel really creative at home and I can get a lot done! So lockdown definitely allowed me to be creative. I did watch all the Harry Potters again though and binged watched trashy TV. So it wasn’t like I was creative all day everyday. It’s important to find the balance and have some chill time and listen to your body! (This is something very new to me, I think my husband has helped me with this. Before I was go go go all the time.)

 You paint a lot of larger scale ladies, do you plan out your bigger paintings out or do you find you just go with it as you start and hope it ends up okay? 

I do plan out my paintings, but if I had to show you the planned out sketch you would think a child drew it. I keep a notebook with all my ideas and whenever I come up with a new painting idea I quickly do a little mini drawing just to get the idea out of my head and onto paper. But all the rest is just spontaneously done. I never have a specific color pallet or anything, I just do what feels right in the moment.

Do you have any projects you’re working on at the moment you’re really looking forward to starting/finishing?

I’m always working on new projects! I always have my fingers in so many pies, haha! I’ve started a new series of acrylic paintings called ‘JAPANESE DAYDREAMZ’ which I’m really excited to get more stuck into. And I am finally getting around to making some sexy merch! I’m doing some shirts and totes and finally getting my online store up and running! Other than that, I’ve got some really cool upcoming tattoos which I can’t wait to do!

You had one of the most low key but beautiful weddings ever, you made a beautiful bride. You recently started working at Seven Doors along side your husband, how have you found working next to him everyday?

Thanks babezzz! We just wanted a really small thing with our family. Nothing too fancy or over the top. We got married on a farm in the middle of Stellenbosch in Cape Town. We got married right by the dam waters edge and both wore Dr Martens. We did the flowers and set it all up ourselves! I wore clothes that I’d had for ages, including a long white chiffon skirt that I think I’ve had since I was 19? I use to wear it to hardcore shows with my Misfits shirt, haha! We had 8 people there and it was just close family members and an amazing photographer who was actually a client of mine before and we traded tatz for the photographs. I didn’t want this huge thing where I spent the whole day talking to a thousand random people, checking in and seeing if they were alright- also cause I’m really ADD and I wanted just a few people who I could connect with 1 on 1. I wanted the day to be about me and Alex and wanted to sit on his lap most of the day without feeling guilty. We ate vegan burgers and had champagne after the ceremony in this little set up in the middle of a forest on the farm. Oh, and it was like 40 degrees so everyone was sweating like big pigs. Haha

Yes! I started at Seven Doors about a month ago and it’s been really great. Everyone is so kind and has been really welcoming. It’s such a great shop and I feel super super inspired there! It’s an added bonus that my sexy husband works there! We worked together in the past at this shop in South Africa (we were just friends at this stage and two years in he confessed his love for me and I was so naughty and kept saying no when he asked me out on dates but then I gave in and now we are married and I’m so damn happy)

 So now getting to work with him again is amazing. We work together really well. We started tattooing around the same time and we’ve always pushed each other to work harder and be better so I’m glad I have my partner in crime at work again. He’s a great inspiration to me and I know he always gives me his honest advice on whatever I’m working on and vise versa and that helps use grow into better artists.