Four females who have it all covered – in ink

NEW TATTOO PARLOUR OPEN TO ALL BUT STAFFED BY WOMEN

Reporter THE North East’s first all female tattoo parlour has opened in North Shields.

Former dental nurse Abbie Graham, 27, set upon the idea of a career switch while she away travelling in South East Asia.

After training to become a tattoo artist, Abbie noticed a gap in the market for a more female friendly tattoo studio and set up 4th Avenue tattoo studio on Prudhoe Street.

She said: “When I was away travelling, that’s when I woke up to how many people have tattoos and how different and creative they can be.

“I decided I want to get tattooed and realised how it was male dominated.”

Since opening in early February, Abbie and her team say they’ve had a warm welcome to the area.

She said: “Customers seem to like it, we think it’s because women often find it easy to chat to one another and that puts people at ease.

“We’re friendly, welcoming and make everybody comfortable.”

The former dental nurse pointed out that there are a lot of similarities between her old job and her new role.

“It’s about putting people at ease, the same as if they were at the dentist,” she said.

Although all the staff at 4th Avenue are female, the business has proved popular with blokes too.

Abbie added: “A lot of men want to be tattooed by women too. I think blokes sometimes want a woman’s opinion or input on things, even if they don’t always admit it.”

“We’re a small group so it’s a really friendly business.”

Abbie works alongside her business partner Brogan Lucy, a piercer, fellow tattoo artist Natasha Aplin and permanent make-up artist Lucie Jones.

Brogan said: “I do think the reason we stand out is that we are the only all female studio.

“Tattooing is mostly a male dominated industry but here customers are only tattooed and pierced by a female and for a lot of people who are wanting intimate tattoos, that can make them feel more comfortable.”

For those who perhaps aren’t brave enough to get permanently inked, 4th Avenue offers a clothing range which can be customised with tattoo print designed by the artists.

For more details, visit www.face book.com/4thavenueUK