In 2008, the local sawmill in my hometown of Slocan, British Columbia shut down, causing my family to sell our home and move across the country to Nova Scotia, navigating the challenges of the housing crisis and the uncertainty that came with it. My mother, Loretta Thomason, found a new path forward by discovering her passion for tattooing. Determined to create a better life for our family, she honed her craft and eventually opened Raven Ink Custom Tattoo Studio. Through her perseverance and skill, she turned a dream into a thriving business, establishing a respected name in the tattoo industry on the east coast. Growing up in this environment, I was fortunate enough to be trained by my mother, learning not just the art of tattooing but also the resilience, dedication, and creativity that comes with it.

My journey in art began almost 10 years ago with watercolour painting. The fluidity and unpredictability of watercolour quickly captivated me, and I spent years refining my skills, learning how to harness the medium’s power to create depth, movement, and emotion. This foundation in watercolour painting has shaped my approach to tattooing, where I bring that same sense of fluidity and vibrant colour into my designs. Now, as a tattoo artist, I specialize in feminine, flowing, illustrative pieces, blending my detailed approach with the artistic freedom I first discovered through painting.