Recommended Tattoo Artist

Highly recommended tattoo artist

Andys Experience (written by webmaster Andy Ramsden)

The wife and I first went to Eternal Images after browsing www.yell.com to see which Tattoo Artists / Tattoo studios - were in existence other than those in my immediate town. Billy had a small beginnings of a website in place but thankfully, there were examples of his work (all be it only three or four tattoo photographs) but they all looked good and looked like great care had been taken over them.

We decided to go and check out the Eternal Images Tattoo Studio at Goole. The kids were all at school and we had the day off work so thought what the hell. Upon arrival it was clear that this was this was why i'd been seeking out a better studio than those i'd used before or looked into locally. Eternal Images Tattoo Studio does come highly recommended - for obvious reasons. It's clean - very clean. I'm 33 now and whilst the majority of my tattoo experience was fifteen years ago, I have frequented other Tattoo Shops / Tattoo Studios as recently as January 2006.
Eternal Images is bright and welcoming, not cluttered with sheets and sheets of uncategorised flash and wall folders, doesn't have thread-fu^&ing-bare carpets and calor gas heaters to match and most importantly to me, isn't full of onlookers and kids moping around trying to look hard or make out they "belong" there in some way. There's nothing i hate more than a studio full of plebs who aren't going to get inked or are just there cos they think it's cool.

The waiting area at Eternal Images is neatly laid out and a pleasure to sit in (make an appointment if you're wanting work done). The chairs are all funky little modern ones and making a choice for those who don't arrive with an idea couldn't be any easier - flash is neatly arranged in categorised folders, from Skulls and devils, to Fantasy Art, Black and Grey, to Tribal, Flowers or Birds. There's a full choice of body jewellery and clothing on display and magazines to sit and read if you're waiting for someone to finish off.

On our fist visit, we told Billy why we were there (looking for a tribal black style lion or tiger for my left arm - to match a tribal black eagles head on my right) and that we'd seen his website which had encouraged us to visit. We got chatting about his work, were shown a really extensive portfolio of work which was of a gret quality and started talking about what he could do and what I wanted doing. To say he changed my mind is in no way fair, but it suddenly hit me that i was talking to a really talented artist and I had a chance to get what i was ultimately looking for - half sleeves that could either successfully cover the crap i had on my arms - or incorporate it. (When i was 16, i thought my tats were the bees knees and i wasted the space on my arms something rotten). We ummed and ahh-ed and talked over what i wanted - A Tiger - Cats. In the end we agreed on a design theme and I agreed to let Billy have a week to get something down on paper and i'd be back the next week - appointment no1 was made.

I was fidgety all week. Spent all week looking up images of Big Cats and the like trying hard to envisage what Billy was going to come up with and what i would end up with. Outlines - all together now and sit still. Two and a half hours of careful work later and we had the beginnings of what I, and a lot of other people who have seen it think, is an award winning tattoo (see here).
The session was great. Cleanliness to a degree never before seen by me and a great bloke. Chatted whenever he could, coffee on tap, toilet and washing facilities. The layout looked massive at first. There were some really sore parts like just in the inside of the elbow (some bits actually on the crease of the inner-elbow) and on top of the shoulder but being a true "sitter", i just remained calm and sat as still as i could. - I'm sure i didn't move once, but if i did, i'm sorry Billy! Nobody that i showed the first sittings' work to, could believe the quality and intensity of the fine line work and shading - like pencil shading was i think the most common remark - it has to be said, it was truly a masterpiece in the offing.

Two weeks later, i was back. Time for the rest of the cats to be shaded / fine - lined.

I didn't think the weeks would pass until my next visit and i was amazed at how quickly the shading scabbed, dropped off and healed. While still being tender skin obviously, it was scab free by the time of my second sitting. The second sitting saw all of the shading done and the green and yellow of most of the foliage - all to the same exacting precise standard. This really was looking the bees-knees now. Same great atmosphere in the studio - banter and chat when practical and an endless supply of coffee.

Two more weeks and the blue background was done, highlights of white and a few touch ups here and there. Job finished. - Just in time for my holiday. I was very very sensible on holiday - my newly tattooed upper arm got factor 50 every day - lets face it - there was no point trying to get it sun tanned as there was no skin to be seen anyway - it was just going to get ruined if it got sun burnt or tanned.

The tattoo cover up above was finished in early April 2006 and we holiday-ed in May. As soon as we got back i was back to Eternal Images for a piece of latin text on my inner arm (same arm - the left one). Billy is still planning a cover up for my other arm and the tattoos i started having when I was 16 (almost 18 years ago!!). This one is going to be a bit less straight forward shall we say as it has a largish black tribal-style eagles head which is either going to have to be totally covered in black or incorporated into the design. The latter is workable as both Billy and I fancy a native american scene. I'm going to have two completely full upper arms and I CAN'T WAIT! I have complete faith in Billy and i know he'll give it a lot of thought and come up with a great design for both of us to be proud of. I also need to have a chat with Billy when we start this next arm because i really want a full back-piece doing too but need to know what he thinks about the bits i already have on there - god i wasted so much space when i was young and naive - although the ones on my back aren't too bad - i love my Dragon (done by Gentle John of Hanley, Stoke On Trent)

I always used to state that i didn't want sleeves doing below the elbow but to be honest i'm just that "into" ink at the moment, that i'm really starting to think "sod it!" and get on with it. For some bizarre reason, i'm really fancying getting my left foot tattooed almost completely with some sort of flames - based design - wonder what Billy can come up with for that???? Keep checking this page and Billys site for updates as and when they happen!!!!! Roll on LEFT ARM!

Remember, booking is always advisable - for tattoo work and consultations.