ASH BUTTERS

I grew up overseas in Dubai, UAE. Once I graduated from high school, I moved to London for a year to attend university. Things didn’t work out there, and I ended up attending Parsons in New York City. Once I graduated from there, I didn’t know if I would ever be a good enough artist, so I decided to focus on a more scientific approach to art and fell in love with User Interface Designs. I went to Full Sail in Florida and graduated with my master’s in Game Design. Unfortunately, I fell out of love with it and wanted to go back to my art roots. One thing led to another, and now I tattoo!

What would you say is your favorite part of the job? My favorite part of the job is having the honor of getting my artwork tattooed on someone forever. I enjoy meeting new people and learning why they choose the designs that they do. I feel honored when they choose me to either get their first piece or be a part of their journey to healing. If my artwork can help a client with more self-esteem or healing, is there really any better compliment than that?

What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing?

I grew up overseas in an area where I didn’t even think being a tattoo artist was a job that was possible to get. I had never even seen a tattoo shop until I moved to London. It wasn’t until after I graduated with my master’s that I considered pursuing tattooing as a career choice. Right around when I started to collect my first tattoos, I was struggling mentally with self-esteem issues. I saw my friends collecting their own tattoos and seeing how their selfesteem grew. At the same time, I wanted to get back to my roots in art. When I saw the effect tattooing was having on my friends, I wanted to be a part of that.

Where do you want to take your tattoo career? I recently opened up a private studio in Lake Mary, FL. I want to pursue a few tattoo conventions; I got to do my first one a few years ago, and it was an incredible experience. In the future, I would love to open up my own shop that doesn’t just focus on tattooing but provides a place that feels safe for women and members of the LGBTQ+ community as clients. It’d be amazing to offer tattoo removal, hair cutting, nail art, and more all under one building. ✕