A HOSPITALITY worker turned ambitious tattooist has opened a tattoo business after being inspired to draw more during the first Covid lockdown.
Alice Noble, 23, moved to Halstead last year, and is the proud owner of Blissful Tattoos in Chapel Street.
Since the age of 16, Alice worked in different hospitality roles but four years ago she was furloughed.
Following this, she began drawing “morning to night”.
Tattooing was something she always thought about but did not have the confidence in, concerned she “wasn’t good enough”.
But after getting a tattoo apprenticeship in April 2021 and honing her skillset at Six Three Tattoos in Colchester, Alice decided to launch Blissful Tattoos.
It came after "stumbling upon" the unit last September while out for breakfast with her partner. She then picked up the keys in October 2023.
But the main inspiration to take the leap and run her own shop was the birth of her son, Caelan, in September last year.
Alice said: “I didn't plan to open a studio quite so early, and this was a decision when he was born five days later on September 16, so it was a crazy thing to do really.
"I call it ‘postpartum delusion’ because I was high on adrenaline when I came to view this premises five days after he was born.
"I knew he would be going to nursery in December and my partner and I are both self-employed.
“I will have been tattooing for three years this September, and it's just probably the best thing I've ever done.”
When it comes to tattooing styles, Alice enjoys combining many different things and has a soft spot for black and grey illustrative projects, ornamental elements, and Japanese-inspired works.
Her favourite project to date is a large full leopard back piece she did for a customer.
So far Alice has built a “loyal clientele” and things are going well enough meaning she has been able to assemble a team.
She works with fellow artists Eliza Platts, Florence Mclellan, apprentice Darcy Wright, with extra space also for guest artists.
Alice said: “I already have such a great clientele, it has been really good.
“People are coming in and word of mouth is already spreading massively, So we couldn't ask for more.
“It's going really well.”
Moving forward in the next five years, Alice would like to expand Blissful Tattoos and open more studios.
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