Whoever said tattoos aren’t feminine, lied

Local tattoo artist was obsessed with the art form from an early age

Natasha Jade Williams had dreamed of being a tattoo artist since she was just a kid obsessed with her dad’s tattoos.

“I used to say to my dad as a kid that I would be a tattoo artist,” she says.

“I used to draw up designs or just sketch, and I would show artists in the community.”

Even as a child still, Natasha was eager to further her abilities and get a foot in the door.

“I would enter any art competition/show I could, and I would read any book I could on how to draw,” she reminisces. And in the end, persistence paid off. “Eventually after school, I uploaded my art online and was offered a placement in a Brisbane studio.

“I wasn’t there long before the studio closed and John Poole [Top of the Range studio here in Toowoomba] was in contact with me to continue learning in the industry in his studio.”

It’s now been six years since Natasha started tattooing, and these days see her well-known and respected as an artist in her own right at Top of the Range, with the backing of a very supportive family.

“My partner, sisters, mum and stepdad have all been tattooed by me,” she says. Each day at the studio is very busy. “We start our day with one appointment, then we take walk-ins for the afternoon,” Natasha says.

“Usually, there are enough walk-ins to fill our day.”

There are new people to meet daily as well.

“Some do become regulars, but we have a lot of people that travel,” Natasha explains.

As a female in a stereotypically male-dominated industry — at least in generations past — it could have been a concern for a future tattoo artist to step into this career, but Natasha has never been anything but confident.

“I don’t receive much negativity being a female in the industry,” she says.

“Being a female in the industry works in my favour at the moment as the ‘in’ style is very feminine, soft and delicate.

“I have a lot of female clients that do prefer to see a female artist... (and) I have had a few women in their late 70s to 80s who have come to see me for their first and only tattoo.”

She still creates her own designs, mostly with pencils but sometimes using a program on an ipad, and one of her favourite parts of her job is seeing that design come to life.

“When someone sees a design I have created and books in for it, it’s always a pleasure to tattoo something I have designed on someone for them to wear permanently,” Natasha says.

“I love when clients let me put my own spin to things.

“I have clients that follow my Instagram for designs that I may upload as an available tattoo.

“I love to do female faces, ‘Day of the Dead’ girls, floral designs, mandala designs, cartoon and quirky pieces,” Natasha enthuses.

“One of my favourites is handwriting from a client’s loved one — usually something quite small but it means a lot to them.”

As much as the designing is wonderful, however, Natasha’s favourite part of her job is the people.

“Before this job I was very quiet and

It’s always a pleasure to tattoo something I have designed on someone for them to wear permanently.” NATASHA JADE WILLIAMS, TATTOO ARTIST I used to say to my dad as a kid that I would be a tattoo artist. I used to draw up designs or just sketch, and I would show artists in the community.

shy,” she explains.

“I now get to chat to all different types of people from everywhere, and I get to learn things I wouldn’t know otherwise.

“I hear a lot of travel stories, personal stories, gains, losses — people are happy to talk about almost anything and it keeps the day entertaining.”

Proof that even as a kid, you can follow your dreams and know what you want to do in life.