Toby Shipman

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, I've loved drawing and art for as long as I can remember. I always knew I'd end up in a creative field but it never occurred to me that I would ever end up as a tattoo artist and enjoy it as much as I do.

I studied and worked in graphic design and advertising for seven years and while much of it was enjoyable, I felt it lacked the true artistic freedom I was looking for. A few of my musician friends started getting amazingly colourful tattoos courtesy of the Gold Coast artist Pommie Paul and it opened my eyes to what was achievable in modern tattooing.

In 2005 I started hanging out in the closest tattoo parlour to where I lived which just happened to be the infamous Sleeve Masters in Sydney’s red light district of Kings Cross. I'd tag along with my friends to see them get tattooed (many of them with designs I had drawn up) and it was only a matter of time before I started getting tattooed myself. By chance, in my very first session there, they mentioned that they were looking for a counter-hand. I took the job.

Almost immediately I was asked if I wanted to learn how to tattoo. I was taken under the wing of two great artists, Mattoo and the late Dave Downy. Two very different tattooists that gave me plenty of insight into a wide range of techniques and styles of tattooing and just as importantly, a way of life that is both sustainable and artistically gratifying.

Upon completing my apprenticeship in 2007 I moved from the craziness and late nights of The Cross to a studio that allowed me to do more custom work. In the time I worked at Pretty In Ink I had the chance to work with some inspiring artists and fine tune my skills.

In 2012 I moved to Canada from Australia and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve had the chance to work in a great shop with talented artists and meet lots of interesting people.

I’ve also had the opportunity to work at various conventions all over the world. Something which I will continue to do to enrich my abilities, continue to meet inspiring people and further myself as a tattoo artist.