Louis Malloy
Today I am profiling one of this country’s best known tattoo artists, Louis Molloy is a Manchester-based artist who designed David Beckham's back tattoo, depicting a bald, winged, angelic figure. Louis has also tattooed other famous people such as Victoria Beckham and Ricky Hatton.
Born in 1963 Louis first began tattooing in the late 1970s despite the fact that at that time no apprenticeships were available to him due Louis spent most of his later teenage years honing his skills, and was only 18 when he opened his first, Manchester-based tattoo shop, which in the next
decade would become a world class establishment called Middleton tattoo studio. “I did do some work as an amateur before then," he says, "but I don't talk about that." In the intervening 26 years he has become one proof the worlds most renowned tattoo artists.
Louis is the star of hit cable show London Ink, a successor to the successful US show, Miami Ink. It's another sign that the tattoo business is perceived as a respectable trade, but as Louis is on record as saying, it wasn't always so.
It used to be seen as a rebellious outsider type thing, and there was always that association with soldiers, sailors and criminals. But that was a myth. That was just the most visible part of Tattooing, whereas now people tend to notice the celebrities. What we're saying in the show is that everybody gets tattoos, it doesn't alter who you are, it doesn't change you as a person."
If your thinking of getting ink it's worth remembering that ink is for life not just a fad so get a tattoo that is unique and means something to you and don't just get one because you want a tattoo coz your mates all have them! Before you rush for an appointment bear in mind that Louis has a six-month waiting list, and he expects subjects to come prepared: "Don't expect me to think for you, I'm not here to think for you." And above all, avoid romance as a motive. "It's easier to get rid of a spouse than it is to get rid of a tattoo, I'm deadly serious." Amorous ink-lovers think on.
Louis also has had the job of mentoring former glamour girl Jody Marsh in the cable TV show Jodie Marsh tattoo apprentice in which the glamour model tried to become an established artist under the watchful eye of Louis, but I must hasten to add Louis did only advise her he didn't train her of offer her the apprenticeship in his shops luckily for him.
Louis work is also featured in many of the books currently available on the subject like the fantastic mammoth book of tattoos and the mammoth book of tattoo art. available from Amazon UK and most major book retailers in the high street and on line.
Born in 1963 Louis first began tattooing in the late 1970s despite the fact that at that time no apprenticeships were available to him due Louis spent most of his later teenage years honing his skills, and was only 18 when he opened his first, Manchester-based tattoo shop, which in the next
decade would become a world class establishment called Middleton tattoo studio. “I did do some work as an amateur before then," he says, "but I don't talk about that." In the intervening 26 years he has become one proof the worlds most renowned tattoo artists.
Louis is the star of hit cable show London Ink, a successor to the successful US show, Miami Ink. It's another sign that the tattoo business is perceived as a respectable trade, but as Louis is on record as saying, it wasn't always so.
It used to be seen as a rebellious outsider type thing, and there was always that association with soldiers, sailors and criminals. But that was a myth. That was just the most visible part of Tattooing, whereas now people tend to notice the celebrities. What we're saying in the show is that everybody gets tattoos, it doesn't alter who you are, it doesn't change you as a person."
If your thinking of getting ink it's worth remembering that ink is for life not just a fad so get a tattoo that is unique and means something to you and don't just get one because you want a tattoo coz your mates all have them! Before you rush for an appointment bear in mind that Louis has a six-month waiting list, and he expects subjects to come prepared: "Don't expect me to think for you, I'm not here to think for you." And above all, avoid romance as a motive. "It's easier to get rid of a spouse than it is to get rid of a tattoo, I'm deadly serious." Amorous ink-lovers think on.
Louis also has had the job of mentoring former glamour girl Jody Marsh in the cable TV show Jodie Marsh tattoo apprentice in which the glamour model tried to become an established artist under the watchful eye of Louis, but I must hasten to add Louis did only advise her he didn't train her of offer her the apprenticeship in his shops luckily for him.
Louis work is also featured in many of the books currently available on the subject like the fantastic mammoth book of tattoos and the mammoth book of tattoo art. available from Amazon UK and most major book retailers in the high street and on line.