Bio

I'm John — a Perth-based artist and illustrator working towards a career in tattooing. I found art through therapy at 37, picked up a pen, and discovered something I didn't know was in me. It changed everything.

I grew up around tools, engines, and things that needed fixing. I've always been drawn to bold imagery — album covers, propaganda posters, religious iconography, horror films. I just never thought I could make any of it myself until I tried.

For the last 9 years I've worked in the Royal Australian Navy as an Electronic Warfare specialist. It sharpened how I think — pattern recognition, reading complex situations fast, and communicating under pressure — but it was never where I belonged. Art is.

I'm now transitioning out of Defence to pursue visual art full-time and connect with Perth's tattoo and creative community.

Influences

My work draws from a wide pool. The common thread is bold imagery, strong contrast, and things that carry weight.

Music

Rancid, Against Me!, Slayer, Mayhem, Funeral Mist, Taake, Marduk, Tsjuder, Gorgoroth, Motorhead, Children of Bodom, Iron Mind, Raised Fist, The Bronx, Gallows, The Dead Boys, Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, The Wildhearts, Andrew WK, Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell.

Visual

Black metal aesthetics. Punk rock flyers. Traditional tattoo flash art. Brutalist architecture. Propaganda imagery. Middle Eastern and Byzantine art and architecture. Warhammer 40K and Warhammer Fantasy. Hammer Horror. Lovecraftian and cosmic horror. Myths and legends. WW2 battleships. Antiques. Symbology and imagery from mysticism, the occult, and niche spirituality. Insurgent art and photography from the 20th and 21st century.

What I'm Looking For

  • Tattoo apprenticeship opportunities in the Perth / Rockingham area
  • Feedback and mentorship from working tattoo artists
  • Connections with graphic designers and visual communicators in WA
  • Engagement with Perth's broader art community

Skills

Creative

  • Tattoo flash design & illustration
  • Ink, pencil, and mixed media
  • Visual communication & layout
  • Brand & identity concepts

Professional

  • Visual communication & briefing
  • Training delivery & facilitation
  • Pattern recognition & analytical thinking
  • Composure and clarity under pressure