with over 11 years tattooing experience, being surrounded by such influential characters throughout my life and a lifelong love for art i was obviously destined to be in such a position as i find myself now. here is my story so far......
A LONG TIME AGO... IN A G... HANG ON THAT ISN'T MY STORY.
FROM THE DAY I WAS BORN MY FUTURE WAS SHAPED AND FORMED SUBCONSCIOUSLY AROUND ME. I WAS DRAWING BEFORE I WAS WALKING! FORTUNATELY FOR ME, MY WHOLE FAMILY IS ARTISTIC IN THEIR OWN WAY. FOR EXAMPLE MY MUM STUDIED AT ART COLLEGE AND WORKED BRIEFLY IN PHOTOGRAPHY, MY DAD WAS A SCULPTOR AND WAS THE CULPRIT OF MANY OF ROYAL DOULTON'S MOST MEMORABLE WORKS, MY GRANDAD WAS A PAINTER IN HIS SPARE TIME AND PRODUCED SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND INSPIRING PIECES OF ARTWORK (TO ME) THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. I REMEMBER WATCHING HIM PAINTING IN HIS STUDIO ROOM, IN WHICH HE WOULD SPEND DAYS LOCKED AWAY, USING BOTH HANDS! HE WAS ACTUALLY LEFT HANDED BUT DUE TO ARTHRITIS IN LATER LIFE LEARNT TO PAINT USING BOTH HANDS SO WHEN ONE BECAME UNBEARABLE HE WOULD SIMPLY SWITCH HANDS AND CARRY ON FOR HOURS.
As can be expected growing up surrounded by this, it didn't take me long to get the hang of it. I started drawing dinosaurs from a very early age and i have not stopped since, although hopefully I have improved a bit since back then........
In school I was constantly drawing, everything was drawn on, this is probably the main contributing factor to why i excelled in art and got gradually lower grades in other subjects. I left school with straight A+'s and went straight onto study art at Newcastle Under Lyme College, however due to my being a bit of a rebel back then and a typical teenager this was short lived and i left the course very early on taking to doing my own still life studies in the public library for months after to hone my skills and keep myself busy and focused.
After this I'd like to say that I stepped straight into an apprenticeship and all was happily ever after..... but no. I have had many jobs from weatherproofing the bottom of static caravans in the winter in wales, to teaching how to play guitar.
At this point there is a bit of a turn in the road for my story and i was working in a retail job with a new set of friends and new ideas for the future... at this point I was finally asked if i wanted to work in a local tattoo studio by a friend where upon I would be put through my licence.
After a very short time I was a qualified tattooer and was learning and progressing everyday thanks to a lovely set of clients and friends for trusting me, including my own Mum and Stepdad. The studio was doing great and i was building a good reputation in the local and surrounding areas.
This is when I meet the love of my life. Lucky for me she had been recommended to ourselves by a friend and popped into the studio to enquire about having some old work covered, obviously i jumped at the chance to tattoo her, the next day we went on our first date and she's been my rock ever since. Having her by my side only fuelled my hunger to progress in the industry and make a life for us together, so I threw myself in to work and started to produce artwork rivalling some of the most reputable local artists. We began to do so well in the studio that we decided to expand, so thats what we did. We opened a much bigger studio and were doing great. its at this point that Jenna Kerr comes into the picture. She had just finished at a studio and needed a new premises to work from, after very few words between myself and the owner we decided to offer her a spot in our studio. Since that day myself and Jenna have continued to learn from one another and help one another progress as artists daily
A couple of years later I decided to spread my wings and fly the nest, fortunately for me Jenna also decided too. So we packed our kits and set out to open our own studio. In the following weeks myself, Jenna and a team of our closest and dearest friends and family built a new studio from the bottom up in the heart of our original city centre, Stoke, right next to our town hall.
For the years that follow the studio went from triumph to triumph building a fantastic reputation for doing some of the finest body art and artwork in the midlands. We began to work at tattoo conventions and do guest spots all over the UK adding to our already established name as a leading body art studio.
After some minor set backs, Luke Pereira Cooper joined the team and our little unit was complete. Together we were 'Devil In The Detail' although obviously we all strived to be the best we could as individuals, each of us pushed the next to make the work produced by the 'Devil In The Detail' name the best we could offer from our team!
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and ‘Devil In The Detail’ wasn’t to last forever.
We all began to drift down our own paths, the biggest factor for myself was having a newborn son and the need to feel established and stable where I was working at the time with less stress involved.
Thanks to Luke Cooper he introduced me to Alastair Barnett and the rest of the amazing team at ‘Creepin’ Reaper’ this is where I find myself currently, I love working as part of such an amazing team of stunning individuals and amazing artists. Still striving to produce the best the industry can offer for our amazing clients!
Sooooooo.................................
Thats where my story ends for now guys, to be continued.
Thanks for reading.
Ben x
Special thanks to
My wonderful Mum (Rebecca Walton), Stepdad (Dave Little) and Grandma (Connie Walton) for raising me to be the person i am today. for always standing my me, encouraging me and believing in my abilities. And most of all for being the most unselfish people I will ever meet, ready to be there at the drop of a hat. Also a special thanks for always going out of your way to make it possible for us to do all the things we want to do.
My beautiful Fiancee, Nic, for always being there when life gets tough and the workload gets on top of me and helping out selflessly at every opportunity. For always pushing me to be the best i can be and encouraging me to try new things. And most of all, for putting up with me through thick and thin.
My amazing friends (TOO MANY TOO LIST!!!) for always being there to cheer me up and distract me when i need distracting! I have a tendency to work too much and these guys are my saviours when I'm due a long needed blowout to freshen up my mind.
To my Grandad (Roy Walton) for being such a huge influence on everything i do and how i view the world around me. He truly did show me how important and beautifully precious our planet and its wonderful creatures are, he showed me how to appreciate life but also how to laugh back in its face.
And lastly to my Dad (Anthony Carlisle) in my earlier years you were there for me and for this I'm grateful. You were around to show me how to see the world through an artists eyes and teach me to draw. I'm glad I made u proud and although you weren't always there for me towards the end i know you were always with me and that the feeling was mutual, i know you'd understand what that means and thats all that matters.
Rest in peace Dad and Grandad, and Grandma
Paint The Skies.