Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Becky Barker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Becky , thanks for joining us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

As a tattoo artist, we are in the privileged position to often be exposed to peoples very personal stories. Whether it is over coming trauma, celebrating an achievement or grieving a loss, people choose to have tattoos for many reasons. I believe whole heartedly, that a good tattoo can improve someone’s quality of life.

I work a lot with clients that have had breast reconstructions after cancer, tattooing realistic Areola and nipple complex’s to help give a desired aesthetic for people that feel it will benefit the way they feel about their body after surgery.

Upon first moving into this line of work after tattooing for ten years, I worked with a lovely lady who had received areola tattooing in hospital 12 years before she came to me, and she was left with two very strange pink smudges in place of her original nipple and areola complex. This is a standard result of tattoos performed in the medical field over here in the UK.

She told me that she hadn’t shown anyone her breasts since her reconstruction, not even her husband, and that the tattoos she had previously received made her feel worse about her surgery results.

As an empath, this made me frustrated. Tattoos should always be empowering, and never anything less in my view.

I tattooed my client, fixed her pink smudged tattoos, and we stayed in touch afterwards. Upon seeing her a few times after we completed her tattoo, I learned that she had now shown her husband her breast, her relationship had improved, and she was starting to really step into her power and confidence.

She even let me share a photo of her tattoos in my TED talk!

This lady, was the reason I started a worldwide survey back in 2019, asking people that had been through breast cancer and had areola tattooing, how they felt about their tattoos once they had healed. The first set of data exploring the impact of tattoo quality in mental health.

This survey has given power to a global movement to improve the standards in medical tattooing.

As my career has progressed, I see empowerment and confidence come to so many people after they receive a meaningful tattoo, it really is a beautiful process! Choosing your own identity and aesthetic, is one of the kindest things a person can do for themselves.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My names Becky Barker, I live in Malvern Worcestershire UK, which is very reminiscent of the Shire from Tolkien’s work. Malvern is a very healing place, and famous for its Water Cure. It’s very apt that I ended up here.

I started tattooing in 2008 in Birmingham UK. I had a very traditional apprenticeship, and learned things seemingly forgotten by the industry these days. I learned how to make needles, how to mix my own inks, and most importantly respect for the industry. I was drawn to tattooing after receiving my first tattoo. I was a bit of a troubled teen, and suffered with body dysmorphia, and for me getting tattooed was the first time I actually started to like the way I looked. it was my choice, not genetics or trying to fit in with beauty standards. I then became obsessed with tattoos, and wanted to gift this feeling to others.

I didn’t take to tattooing naturally. I took the pressure of permanence very seriously, which hindered my learning as I was scared to take risks! I worked in various studios throughout the UK, and after about three years of tattooing full time, finally felt at ease.

I moved to Malvern in 2012 to start my life with my now husband, and I worked in a local studio. It was in this studio that I first discovered areola tattooing after a client approached me asking me to fix her medical tattoos.

I worked really hard to learn all I can about medical tattooing which includes working with scars, and tattooing realistic Areola and Nipples that last. This is a huge part of my work, and I am fortunate to have referrals from various institutions. Thanks to the Charity Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance, I am supported in providing regular free of charge clinics to clients who can benefit from Areola tattooing but may not have the financial means to pay for a private treatment.

I opened my own private studio in 2014 in Malvern, which has now become a high street studio and home to 5 other artists. Lumina is a safe space and inclusive of all. We are a supportive and hard working collective.

In 2020, I was accepted to be a speaker for Malvern TEDX which was postponed until 2021 due to lockdown. I worked really hard with coaches, creating a talk that was informative and engaging. TED itself picked up the talk, and promoted it to a TED talk meaning it’s on the TED site. It’s quite rare for this to happen, so I was in disbelief for a long time! It is, without a doubt, one of my proudest achievements and an honour to share a story about the empowerment of tattoos.

I also have begun to bring empowerment into my traditional tattooing. I primarily work in symbolic tattoos, often based on a clients affirmation. I spend a lot of time helping people pin point what they feel they need to live a full life, and then we create a Sigil based on this and tattoo it in a relevant position on the body.

Another part of my work involves education. As the tattoo industry has evolved so quickly, and especially the PMU industry, there is so much information that can help practitioners get the very best out of their work that is missing from many education programmes. Myself and my friend Nic Delaunay, have written a course called ‘the Craft’. This is a course teaching key knowledge in tattoo foundation, as if we have a good foundation we can build a solid career.

I work very closely with A.R.T which is an education system aiming to create a gold standard worldwide. A.R.T hosts our foundation course as part of its programme.

I believe that if someone feels empowered, there is a ripple effect throughout everyone they meet. I see tattooing as an honour, and being able to use my skills to help people embrace themselves and feel confident, is truly a beautiful feeling.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I feel that in the world of social media and online marketing, the art of networking is sometimes forgotten.

The best strategy I have found for growing my clientele, is actually making the effort to go and speak to people face to face. Whether it’s someone in the supermarket asking about my tattoos, or a support group for breast cancer survivors or even other tattoo artists.

Most of my work comes from referrals from people I have tattooed, and the fact I have been in one place for so long. I have managed to build a good reputation in my local area.

To be honest, I believe the thing that sets me apart, is my customer service. I treat everyone who comes to get tattooed by me the very best I can. I listen and make people feel instantly at ease. I make myself available to my clients when they need me, and I ensure clear and kind communication.

A bit of kindness goes a long way!

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I wouldn’t change my career however I may have approached my career differently.

I wouldn’t change anything about my apprenticeship, or experiences that I have had in my career, however I wish I had had a bit more faith in myself and my intuition.

I feel that I was so self conscious entering the tattoo industry, I tried to imitate other artists I looked up to and felt immense pressure to live up to a standard that I never felt I reached.

I have been tattooing 15 years, and only now do I feel that I can embrace my career without imposter syndrome and I have pure enjoyment from my work and all of the adventures it has taken me on!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beckyadelaidetattoo.co.uk
• Instagram: @mastectomyart and @actias_awen
• Other: https://www.ted.com/speakers/becky_barker