With a love of art and drawing, Vincent David always wanted to be a tattoo artist. After opening Custom Collective in Hamilton along with a friend, Vincent has now opened a brand new tattoo shop in Raglan — Soul Studio.
“I’ve always just drawn and grew up liking tattoos from a young age,” said Vincent.
Working in a fish factory in Tauranga before his apprenticeship, he’d always had an avid interest in tattooing. But it was the passing of his mother that really sparked a fire in his belly.
“When my mother passed away she said to me, ‘If you really want to do it, just do it,’ so I quit my job and moved to Auckland. I basically just went door knocking for an apprenticeship.”
Having drawn his whole life, Vincent’s leap of faith paid off, scoring an apprenticeship under Nik Glavish at Stigmata Tattoo in Auckland.
“I was an apprentice for about three years. It was pretty hardcore but it was good because I learnt heaps.”
Now co-owning his own studio, Custom Collective, opening the Raglan shop was something he’d thought about for a while and decided he’d ‘give it a go’ in 2013. Still committed to Custom Collective, Vincent spends the week in Hamilton while working from Soul Studio during the weekends or by appointment.
Not bound to any particular style of tattooing Vincent reckons his inspirations stem from tattoos he sees around as well as the ideas from people that come to see him.
“I’ve got some favourites, I quite like Japanese style because I like to be able to draw pictures. But really I like doing every style.”
Soul Studio will also be a base for the many national and international guest artists that Vincent hosts during their visits to the area.
Having tattooed at the New Zealand International Tattoo Expo last weekend, Vincent and a bevy of tattooed artists from all over the world were spending the week at Solscape for an ‘artist’s retreat.’
“Next week I’ve got a guy from Japan, a girl from England and a couple more guys from America staying with me,” he said.
Holding an opening party about a month ago, the new Soul Studio has been going steadily as Vincent continues to kit out the studio space. Check out the new shop behind the Wainui Road Food Market (old Info Centre) or for appointments: 0211644072, email: soulstudio.raglan@gmail.com or check out their Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/allstyletattoo
Soul Studio Tattoo is now All Style Tattoo, check out their new website! allstyletattoo.co.nz
Maki Nishiyama
