Libby Wells: A Tale of Two Cities
Well it only took a year, but finally someone took the plunge by taking me up on the offer of free advertising and, I have to say, I'm over the moon with the work of the the artist that took that plunge...Libby Wells.
Libby Wells is currently an artist at both Skin Candy Tattoo in Brighton and the Latin Angel Studio, just a stones throw from the Thames in Richmond and this....is her story.
Libby Wells is currently an artist at both Skin Candy Tattoo in Brighton and the Latin Angel Studio, just a stones throw from the Thames in Richmond and this....is her story.
Born into an incredibly creative family, even from a young age she was either painting or drawing or, she says, building new homes for her pets. Her mum was a keen artist herself, sketching, painting in watercolours and enthusiastically throwing herself into every new project but, the inspiration didn't end with her mum. Her dad turned their home and garden into an ongoing project and when the right tool for the job didn't exist, he took to the garage and invented one.
While the rest of the world was squabbling with their siblings, Libby's brother and sister were themselves a source of inspiration; her brother sharing new artists and musicians with her, often explaining why they were important and her sister, like Libby, was constantly busy with pens, pencils and brushes. Born into a family like that, how could Libby Wells not become an artist? Luckily for the good folk of the South East, she added a tattoo machine to the list of ways she can create fabulous art.
She cites the works of Caravaggio, Samuel Palmer and Gunter Brus among her many influences and, looking at the various work she has created herself, I feel the incredible diversity between their respective works is reflected in the diversity of her own.
While the rest of the world was squabbling with their siblings, Libby's brother and sister were themselves a source of inspiration; her brother sharing new artists and musicians with her, often explaining why they were important and her sister, like Libby, was constantly busy with pens, pencils and brushes. Born into a family like that, how could Libby Wells not become an artist? Luckily for the good folk of the South East, she added a tattoo machine to the list of ways she can create fabulous art.
She cites the works of Caravaggio, Samuel Palmer and Gunter Brus among her many influences and, looking at the various work she has created herself, I feel the incredible diversity between their respective works is reflected in the diversity of her own.
" ...I found myself feeling as though I could relate to people, that I could never know, through their work."
~Libby Wells~
But enough of me trying sound like I understand art, what about tattoos?
I asked Libby what it was that made her decide to be a tattoo artist and her response was simple, she didn't know, she just always knew that she wanted to tattoo people.
"I always wanted to be a Tattoo Artist. Since before I can remember, so I couldn’t really say what made me want to go into Tattooing, It was just always there. I imagine I loved Art and when I realised I could put it on people and they could keep it ,I got excited by that !"
Libby explored her passion for art at school, studying Art & Graphics through to A'Level and just last year (2017) she took herself off to London to brush up on some practical skills at Central St Michael's College by way of a Fine Art Progression course, but it seems that most of what she knows has come by way of self-study and many years of practice. I suppose you just can't beat natural ability.
I asked Libby what it was that made her decide to be a tattoo artist and her response was simple, she didn't know, she just always knew that she wanted to tattoo people.
"I always wanted to be a Tattoo Artist. Since before I can remember, so I couldn’t really say what made me want to go into Tattooing, It was just always there. I imagine I loved Art and when I realised I could put it on people and they could keep it ,I got excited by that !"
Libby explored her passion for art at school, studying Art & Graphics through to A'Level and just last year (2017) she took herself off to London to brush up on some practical skills at Central St Michael's College by way of a Fine Art Progression course, but it seems that most of what she knows has come by way of self-study and many years of practice. I suppose you just can't beat natural ability.
James C via Google Reviews, "Best place to get tattoos. All artists are great and very pleased with the great art I'm getting from Libby Wells covering up all my old tattoos. Highly recommended."
At the age of 18 Libby took herself off to see Jack Applegate who was then just an apprentice at "Nine" tattoo in Brighton (He's since bought the studio and renamed it, "Dead Slow" and he continues to do most of Libby's tattoos to this day). Her first tattoo was a line work hummingbird, unsurprisingly, designed years before by Libby herself and paid for by her mum, as an 18th birthday present. The rest, as they say, is history.
I have to say I'm a big fan of her work, particularly her black and grey work. I'm trying hard to think of better examples of bird tattoos but I am genuinely struggling and from our communications she seems like a genuinely nice person as well. I love her passion for what she does, it would be a marvellous thing if we could all find the love for what we do that Libby has for what she does. If your in East Sussex or South West London you could do much worse than pop int Sin Candy in Brighton or Latin Angel in Richmond and, ask for Libby Wells.
To conclude our conversation I asked Libby what advice she would give to anyone with a desire to become a tattoo artist, so for all you budding ink-slingers, here's what she said;
I have to say I'm a big fan of her work, particularly her black and grey work. I'm trying hard to think of better examples of bird tattoos but I am genuinely struggling and from our communications she seems like a genuinely nice person as well. I love her passion for what she does, it would be a marvellous thing if we could all find the love for what we do that Libby has for what she does. If your in East Sussex or South West London you could do much worse than pop int Sin Candy in Brighton or Latin Angel in Richmond and, ask for Libby Wells.
To conclude our conversation I asked Libby what advice she would give to anyone with a desire to become a tattoo artist, so for all you budding ink-slingers, here's what she said;
"The advice I would give to anyone joining the Tattoo Industry is to be kind, honest in your art work and to be resilient. It’s one of the hardest thing I ever did, learning to tattoo. There’s so much to remember and learn, so many variables and sadly a lot of negativity and unprofessional behaviour in the industry, as there is in any profession. So, you have to have a really thick skin and work hard to progress in-spite of these obstacles.
It really is worth it in the end ! When you get past that surface there is a world of passionate people who love their job and want nothing more that to pass on good energy with their artwork"
Libby Wells ~ Social Media & Contact
Location
Skin Candy - Brighton, East Sussex
One of many great reviews of Skin Candy via Google Reviews, "Great tattoo studio. My artist moved away so I needed somewhere new. I have been nowhere else since for obvious reasons! Friendly staff and most importantly a high standard of tattooing. I have yet to see a bad tattoo from anybody who works there. Unfortunately I don't have much skin left to ink :-("
Latin Angel - Richmond, SW London
One of dozens of fantastic reviews via Google reviews, "Without doubt the best studio I have been to! Wouldn't even consider going anywhere else! Miguel is one of the loveliest people I have met with amazing talent and always delivers way above your expectations! The studio is beautiful, very friendly staff and always a great experience! Would highly recommend to everyone!"
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