We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ally Gardiner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ally below.

Ally, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Yes I am very lucky to be able to earn a living and do a creative job full time. I started tattooing during the Miami ink boom of the late 2000’s. Tattooing was becoming more mainstream in the UK as a result so I was busy from the start. It’s really important to not take that for granted. Save your money. Always treat people with kindness and respect. I’ve built a loyal client base over the years because I like to think people feel comfortable with me as well as like my work. Even if your work is outstanding, a bad attitude will ultimately affect your business. It’s important for me to look after myself and be aware of the signs of burn out. It can be a very demanding job emotionally and creatively.
I wish I had the confidence and sense when I was younger to take bigger opportunities and I wish I pushed myself more to be around the best artists and the best studios. I never felt like I was good enough and suffered greatly with imposter syndrome. As a result I think I missed out on potentially progressing artistically and personally. However I have always been successful in terms of being consistently busy during particularly hard times (especially now) and putting as much love and skill as I can into what I do. Now I’m older, I believe it’s never too late to achieve greater creative goals because it’s what I truly love and I know that committing to your highest passions always results in success. I’m on the right path.

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.

I’ve been tattooing for nearly 20 years. I did an apprenticeship in an old school street shop so I’m a well rounded tattooist capable of most styles, however I particularly enjoy bold traditional work, fine line black and grey, and portraits.
I’m very good at being able to visualise what my clients want even when they’re struggling to express their ideas. I often hear “that’s exactly what I was thinking” or “that’s even better than what I was thinking” which definitely feels like a super power as a tattooist. I think I’m good at reading people which helps to make them feel comfortable in a potentially vulnerable environment. My room is wall to wall art and figures and weird curiosities that reflect me as a person which helps them to get to know if I’m for them or not pretty quick! I can’t stand a plain white wall and I think a tattoo studio should look somewhere between a fever dream and a circus. Lots of distractions and inspiration and quirks. It’s not a dentists waiting room. Who you are and how you present yourself is important to clients.

I’m also a self taught artist. I work with oils, acrylic, pencil, ink, and markers mostly. I feel the most peace and joy when I’m painting. I love the freedom of painting or drawing compared to the rules of tattooing. I would say my art is influenced by not only traditional tattoo motifs, but also horror, psychedelics, 70’s, cartoons, comics, spirituality, and camp. I find art very therapeutic as I find it hard to articulate myself in the usual ways, but I want to ultimately shift into making traditional art full time. I take on commissions wherever I can, but the fine art world still feels like an alien world to me. I’m very much inspired by other tattooists who successfully crossover.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I fled a violent relationship and lost everything. I had only the clothes on my back and had to leave an area I had always dreamed of working in to start again somewhere else. Alone. It was an unbelievably difficult time in so many ways and if I didn’t have my art I don’t think I would have survived it. My tattooing skills meant I could start earning again pretty quickly, and my love of art helped me to survive the physical and mental turmoil. I was able to create on canvas or paper what I couldn’t simply process in my mind. It made me a better artist overall. Having a creative outlet is so important to my well-being.
Escaping a dangerous situation that almost destroyed me also made me a more gentle and empathetic tattooist. Clients often open up to me about their lives and now I’m out of that situation I’m able to be better company for them I’m sure.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Creativity changes culture. We should be properly funding the arts. I would also love to see free art clubs, art therapy classes, and opportunities for young people to express their creativity. Art connects people together, and has the power to change the world. If people had the time and money to be more creative, it would create a better world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://NOARTNOHEART.com
• Instagram: noart_noheart