At Union we like to know every tattoo that we do will look 100% when it is healed, we like to know the work we put out has longevity and that our customers will be happy with it. We cannot guarantee this with white tattoos so therefore we do not do them.

Unfortunately a lot of things you see on the Internet can be very misleading, we believe that white tattoos are one of these things. Many photos you see of white tattoos online are taken directly after the tattoo is finished, it looks great because its just be done and hasn’t settled into the skin. Which means the expectations you have are impossible to meet and very misled

White ink is not designed to outline with, it’s thick consistency and light pigment make it perfect for mixing and blending with other colours and for highlights. Ink companies make black ink specifically for lining with, it is a lot thinner than other inks. Because white ink is thicker in consistency it is a lot trickier to line with.

Photo credit: Buzzfeed

White ink fades very quickly, the general rule is the lighter the pigment the quicker your body can break it down, white is the lightest coloured pigment you can get and the quickest to fade away.

White ink can discolor, over the years we have seen white tattoos that have gone yellow, green and grey.

The chemical composition of White ink is different to black ink, which means it spreads in the skin a lot more than black ink, which means delicate and detailed designs will  spread and look blurry.

While we appreciate the fact that it is your body to get tattooed and your money to spend, please respect the fact that our artists want to do a great job on your tattoo, white ink is just to much of a gamble for us.

so if you have done your research, understand the risks and realitys and still really want a white ink tattoo then we’re sure you’ll be able to find a decent artist in New Zealand who will do it for you. Otherwise there are plenty of other options we can discuss for subtle looking tattoo designs, just pop in for a consultation.

Our Goat and stag are probably the most stand out features on the walls of our studio. Lots of you comment on them so we thought we’d share their story wth you.

Firstly for all the vegans that may be offended by them, these are antique pieces, while we don’t like to support hunting as a sport, we do think that these animals are beautiful, they are antiques that have been killed, stuffed and put on plaques many many years ago, so we think they look a lot better on our walls than in the waste bin.

The goat was originally on the wall of iconic wellington bar matterhorn when it first opened some 2o years ago. When matterhorn refurbished and changed their look the goat was moved to the brand new Might Mighty Bar on Cuba street in 2006. The Stag was also a feature on the walls of the bar. The two sat happily opposite each other for many years. Might Mighty was one of wellingtons most legendary bars, it was a place where everyone felt welcomed, it wasn’t a hipster hangout, it was a bar that offered something for everyone, it left a gapping hole in the nightlife in wellington and is still talked about today. However sometimes is best to end on a bang then fizzle out. When Mighty Mighty closed it’s doors in 2014 Craigy Lee spent a day tattooing all the staff.

Craigy wouldn’t take payment for the days work as Mighty had left a very special place in his heart, so as payment Mighty Mighty owner Sally Gifted him the Goat and Stag that adorned the walls of her beloved bar, on the condition that they stayed together in a public space in wellington.

So they sit on the walls of our little studio greeting every customer that walks through the door, as they have done for decades.

Craigy opened Union tattoo in 2015 with his wife India. After travelling and tattooing all over the world he wanted to open a studio that incorporated the best elements of every studio he had worked in. The studio has grown immensely over the past few years, and Craigy is still at the shop week in week out. So here is 20 questions with Craigy Lee

1. How Long have you been tattooing?

The end of this year will be 12 years.

2. How old were you when you got your first tattoo?

I was 17.

3. Where did you get it?

I got it at a Harley Davidson bike rally in Bournemouth, England, It was a tribal tattoo on my calf which has now been covered up. It wasn’t cool tribal it was just black spikey tribal as was popular at that time.

4. What’s your favourite style to tattoo?

Anything that challenges me really. I love to tattoo black illustrative designs, but I also still love doing american traditional tattoos.

5. Who are your favourite tattoo artists?

When I first started tattooing I loved Tony ciavarro and Angelique Houtcamp, I managed to get a tattoo by Angelique when i was in Amsterdam a few years ago and it was an awesome experience, she was just as lovely in person as i had hoped. I also love Chris Lennox from Ausralia, he’s a good friend of mine, really down to earth but so inspiring, just a person consumed by creativity. Also two artists that i worked with and gave me inspiration and drive when i really needed it in that point of my career, Kel Violet and Richard Warnock.

6. Who are your favourite artists?

I have lots of of favourites, in terms of classic masters, Egon Schiele and Salvidor Dali are up there. Lowbrow artist Mark Ryden and Sylvia Ji. Other artists that are a bit less traditional that i love are Steve dillon who did the artwork on the Preacher Comic books, Alan Lee who did the fairies book and Ralph Mcquarrie who did the concept art for the star wars movies.

7. What’s your favourite thing about working at Union?

The best thing in the shop is the electronic pencil sharpener.  ha ha ha no seriously It has to be the people I work with, and our fabulous customers and their awesome ideas for tattoos. You can build a business, you can work hard, you can make the coolest space in the world, but its the people that work there that bring the shop to life. They also put up with me every day!

8. What’s the most common question you get asked everyday?

“I bet you use a lot of cling wrap”

9. Who do you look up to?

All the people putting others before themselves. My wife India who looks after our daughter Lola every day.

10.How do you stay inspired?

This is something I constantly struggle with, working a job where I have to be creative everyday has enormous highs and really crushing downs. I think working guestspots are important, getting out of your normal working environment. I recently talked about this subject with Josh up at Two hands in Auckland, he told me the key was to go away somewhere once a month, just for a day or a night, just somewhere different. so I am going to try this approach.

11.What’s your favourite brunch spot in wellington?

Hands down it has to be Prefab

12. What are your favourite things to do on a day off?

Well that depends on the weather, but almost always spending time with the family. If its hot the beach or a walk, if its wet or cold a museum or a basketball game at the Tsb arena.

13. What’s you favourite movie?

Everyone that knows me knows I’m a massive movie nerd, I have a huge collection of movies and a pretty serious home cinema set up. Its hard to pick one film. But if I had to pick just one I could watch over and over again it would be Back to the future. It’s timeless, it’s classic, it’s aged well, it’s funny, it’s romantic, it’s cool, it’s multi generational, its just a great movie.

14. Favourite book?

The odyssey by homer.

15. Favourite Album?

Bleed American by Jimmy eat world. I can listen to that album from start to finish and not skip a single song. It transports me to a time when music was exciting, before the internet, back to when i was a teenager going to see bands play in london, going to festivals and living in the moment, eating cheeseburgers at burger king in waterloo station at 2am having missed ur train without and care in the world.

16. Pineapple on or off pizza?

I’m a traditionalist when it comes to pizza, no pineapple.

17. Are you a cat or dog person?

Cat’s because they just do their own thing.

18.Long black or flat white?

Usually tea, but if I’m out always a flat white.

19. Indian curry or thai curry?

Being english it has to be indian curry, its pretty much our national dish.

20. What would your last meal be if you were on death row?

Grilled prawns with garlic for starters, then medium rare scotch fillet steak, with potato gratin, and garlic green beans, washed down with an oaky red wine. Then creme brûlée.

1. Tattoo Tonic is specifically made for tattoos, the essential oils and butters that are in it have anti inflammatory and soothing properties specifically designed to aid the healing of your tattoo. Many studios recommend bepanthen or savlon but these creams have little benefits to help heal a new tattoo.

2. Tattoo Tonic is 100% vegan, so you can sleep sound at night knowing it doesn’t contain animal products and hasn’t been tested on animals. It doesn’t contain lanolin oil or beeswax which are both very common in other tattoo balms.

3. Tattoo tonic is 100% natural, its made from plant based essential oils and butters, it contains no parabens or any other chemicals that are concerning for your health.

4. Tattoo tonic is locally made. It’s made right here in wellington, New Zealand.

5.Tattoo tonic is a small family owned company, it was created by Craigy Lee and his wife India and they still own and operate it to this day. So when you buy a tin your not giving money to a big multi national company and paying for a ceos third home, your putting food on a familys table and putting shoes on their daughters feet.

6. All the ingredients and labelling are sourced in New Zealand, putting money back into our own economy and supporting other independent local business.

7. Tattoo tonic has been around since 2014, it was tried and tested in our busy studio on Cuba street before it was sold nationwide. It is now stocked in some of New Zealands most well respected studios from Auckland to Invercargill.

8. It’s hand made in small batches, its not made on a huge production line in a huge factory. Its made in our commercial grade kitchen in Wellington. Its hand made, hand poured and hand labelled. Making it by hand in smaller batches ensures we have a high quality control and can put the love and care into each tin.

9. It has a long shelf life, if you have some left over and want to use it for your next tattoo just store it in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight such as a bathroom cupboard. It will be good for 36 months after opening.

10. The packaging is 100% recyclable, so wash out your used tin and put it out with your other aluminium food cans ready to be recycled.

Steph joined the Union family earlier this year, she sometimes rolls her Rs giving away the fact she originally hails from the south island. She came to Wellington to chase her dream of becoming a tattoo artist and she has been building up a solid clientele who are fans of her off beat illustrative designs. so without further ado here is 20 questions with Steph.

1. How Long have you been tattooing?

I have been tattooing for just on three years.

2. How old were you when you got your first tattoo?

I was 18. But my mum still wanted to kill me.

3. Where did you get it?

No comment

4. What’s your favourite style to tattoo?

I don’t have a particular style I like to tattoo as such, but I have recently been loving doing more traditional inspired pieces.

5. Who are your favourite tattoo artists?

I have so many favourite tattoo artists! To name a few: Bobby aka monkeybob tattoo. Sera Helen. Paul Stillen. Sarah Martinez Schor. Ryan Jessiman. I’ll stop there.

6. Who are your favourite artists?

Salvador Dali. Meredith Marsone. Mark Maggiori. Tom of Finland. Sue Wickison.

7. What’s your favourite thing about working at Union?

Just Zoe… Just kidding! Also working with helpful, lovely, supportive, inspiring and hilarious people! The constant flow of friendly and trusting people wanting to get fun tattoos. Basically everything.

8. What’s the most common question you get asked everyday?

How did you get into tattooing? How old is your cat? Did you just fart?

9. Who do you look up to?

See answer to question 5. Also, my dad Leonard and his ridiculously hard working attitude.

10.How do you stay inspired?

Coffee. Always looking at art that inspires me. And not wanting to be poor.

11.What’s your favourite brunch spot in wellington?

It would have to be a toss up between the Botanist, prefab, and Loretta’s!

12. What are your favourite things to do on a day off?

Hang out with my partner Kalais and my cat lucifer. Eat lots of yummy food.

13. What’s you favourite movie?

It depends on my mood! Atm it’s probably either the shape of water, Carol or death proof.

14. Favourite book?

Amazing rare things by David Attenborough.

15. Favourite Album?

Ctrl by SZA

16. Pineapple on or off pizza?

On pizza. All pizza is beautiful

17. Are you a cat or dog person?

I love both equally except My cat is superior to all other beings in the universe.

18.Long black or flat white?

Long Black but w runny cream because I’m naughty.

19. Indian curry or thai curry?

Thai

20. What would your last meal be if you were on death row?

Mexican soup, followed by a Margherita pizza, followed by tempura prawns. A glass of chardonnay on the side

We take a deposit to ensure our customers turn up for their tattoo at the agreed time and day. There is a lot of work that goes into preparing for a tattoo before we actually start tattooing. The consultation process, dealing with emails, then drawing and preparing for the tattoo itself. So if you don’t show up or you cancel your appointment then the deposit goes to the artist to cover all this time. Our artists are all self employed so if they don’t tattoo then they don’t get paid, if appointments don’t turn up they still have bills to pay and food to put on the table.

Tattoo deposits are always non refundable, this is clearly stated at the time of paying a deposit on our website and printed on all our studio appointment cards as is required by the New Zealand consumer guarantees act.

You may not be aware but once you have paid a deposit you have entered into a legally binding contract. Legally it doesn’t matter whether there is a written agreement or not, you don’t need to have anything signed for the law to take hold. The deposit is security that this contract will be fulfilled and once the contract (tattoo) is completed then you pay the remaining balance. If you change your mind or have to cancel the contract for whatever reason the supplier is entitled to keep your deposit.

If you need to change your appointment we require at least 48 hours notice if you give us this much notice we will transfer your deposit over with your new appointment. 48 hours gives us a bit of time to try and fill the cancelled appointment time.

Zoe has been working at Union for over a year now, she probably has the funniest story about how she ended up here. One morning when going for a walk with her daughter she dropped a toy animal outside Craigy Lee’s house, Craigy left for work a few minutes later, finding the toy on the pavement, and picked it up to return it. He drove down the road to return the toy only to realise he had already met and knew its owner. They had a chat and Craigy learnt the shop Zoe was previously working at was closing down, the universe had aligned and the rest as they say, is history.

When she’s not tattooing she’s taking care of her daughter Evie. Originally from Newcastle, England. She moved to Wellington after travelling around New Zealand and falling in love with a kiwi boy (awwwwww). Your probably familiar with her delicate fine line tattoos, which are extremely popular with our customers, now you can get familiar with her favourite things about tattooing and wellington, here is 20 questions with Zoe:

1. How Long have you been tattooing?

Almost 9 years.

2. How old were you when you got your first tattoo?

18! My mum would have kicked my ass if I was younger than that.

3. Where did you get it?

A proper old school studio, typical of the early 2000s. It was a dingy little studio in Newcastle, Uk. It was literally underground, and fucking freezing cold. I’m not gonna mention the name in case it’s still there haha

4. What’s your favourite style to tattoo?

I love tattooing intricate and delicate line tattoos, that’s a recent thing though, I’m constantly evolving.

5. Who are your favourite tattoo artists?

I really admire a Korean artist called Ziwah. I’m not sure if she is super well known in the western world but her delicate organic style is rad. Keegan Sweeney is another one, I love his strong large scale symmetry. Oh and Kelly Violence and of course the local legend Roger Ingerton, his work was and is so ahead of its time.

6. Who are your favourite artists?

Kent Williams, I love his dreamlike ethereal paintings. He has also animated one of my favourite graphic novels (aesthetically speaking) called “The Fountain”. Alex Grey, all of his work portrays love, the universe and the higher self. It’s just magic to look at, it’s always been a dream of mine to visit his gallery “the chapel of sacred mirrors” in New York.

7. What’s your favourite thing about working at Union?

I can’t choose one thing, so I’ll list a few. The atmosphere is one, professional yet welcoming. The artists I work with, we are like a little family. And lastly the fact that I get to tattoo things, styles and themes that I really enjoy, because Union is so trusted by our clients it means clients trust me to just let me do my thing.

8. What’s the most common question your get asked everyday?

Not really a question but a demand from my daughter Evie “Up please mum”  ha ha ha there you go.

9. Who do you look up to?

Cliche, but my mum. She’s a an amazing strong woman.

10.How do you stay inspired?

I see beauty and art in things around me. I think of my daughters future.

11.What’s your favourite brunch spot in wellington?

I don’t do brunch but I do dinner (ha) and it’s Oaks noodle house on Cuba Street. Shady little place but seriously the best.

12. What are your favourite things to do on a day off?

Yoga, sleeping, spending time with my family.

13. What’s you favourite movie?

Totally mood depending but I’m gonna say it’s a battle between “gentlemen prefer blondes” and “gone with the wind” I like my oldies.

14. Favourite book?

The end of Mr. Y

15. Favourite Album?

Man can I choose more than one?! Pink Floyd – the wall. Tool 10,000 days.

16. Pineapple on or off pizza?

Always off pizza, pineapple on pizza is the devil.

17. Are you a cat or dog person?

Cats all the way, furry little pumpkins.

18.Long black or flat white?

Long black. Too much milk makes me fart.

19. Indian curry or thai curry?

Indian curry! Much more complex flavours and more fun to cook.

20. What would your last meal be if you were on death row?

Indian curry followed by my partners homemade banana pancakes. He makes them so goood.

I first met Josh in 2011 at the Auckland International tattoo convention, i have watched his career grow over the years. He has worked in some of Aucklands most well respected studios and he now resides at Two hands tattoo in Ponsonby. He specialises in contemporary Ta Moko tattooing, and has worked with us a few times this year, here is 20 questions with Joah Paki

1. How Long have you been tattooing?

8 years

2. How old were you when you got your first tattoo?

19

3. Where did you get it?

On my chest, at Two Hands Tattoo, when it was on Symonds St.

4. What’s your favourite style to tattoo?

Moko

5. Who are your favourite tattoo artists?

Those who work hard to make good work, to strive to progress, and are a good human being. 

6. Who are your favourite artists?

see above.

7. What’s your favourite thing about working at Union?

The environment that is created within the studio, how the clients are welcomed in, treated with manaakitanga and respect. We are nothing without our clients. Nga mihi ki a koutou katoa, koutou hia maumoko

8. What’s the most common question your get asked everyday?

e oho ana koe Papa? Are you awake Dad?

9. Who do you look up to?

Oku tupuna, a, ratou ko oku whanaunga. My ancestors, and my family.

10.How do you stay inspired?

Ka titiro au ki nga wa i mua, ki te mahi o oku tupuna,a, ki aku moemoea, nga korero mai o oku tupuna.

11.What’s your favourite brunch spot in wellington?

I do not eat brunch.

12. What are your favourite things to do on a day off?

Be with my whanau, surf, paddle and paint.

13. What’s you favourite movie?

I don’t have a favourite movie

14. Favourite book?

I do not have a favourite book as there are too many good ones to list. I am currently reading Franz Fanon’s, “The wretched of the earth”.

15. Favourite Album?

See answer above, my current favourite albums to paint to are Hirini Melbourne’s ” Te Ku o te Whe, and Om “Advaitic Songs” Both create a similar feeling that helps to perpetuate creativity.

16. Pineapple on or off pizza?

No pineapple on pizza.

17. Are you a cat or dog person?

No pets, let them run free.

18.Long black or flat white?

Long black with cold milk on top.

19. Indian curry or thai curry?

Too spicy, smoked mussels.

20. What would your last meal be if you were on death row?

I don’t have a favourite meal

Sholto has been working at the shop since the beginning, he has grown and developed as an artist significantly over that period. So we thought he would be the perfect person to kick off our new artists feature, called 20 questions. so here is 20 questions with Sholto:

1. How Long have you been tattooing?

I started my apprenticeship about 5 years ago and started tattooing paying customers about a year after that.

2. How old were you when you got your first tattoo?

I was 23, a late starter compared to some. It was a metaphorical two fingered salute to my recent ex at the time!

3. Where did you get it?

I got it at Angelic Hell in Brighton, England. And it was on my forearm.

4. What’s your favourite style to tattoo?

Japanese by a long shot and I definitely get a tattoo boner for western traditional too.

5. Who are your favourite tattoo artists?

So many to choose from!!! The masters, Horiyoshi III and Horitoshi I are impossible to go past. Everybody working at Three Tides in Tokyo. Horitomo. There really are too many to mention and they all bring something to the table. Closer to home, Adam Craft who’s done my back and ongoing work on my torso, arse and legs.

6. Who are your favourite artists?

Katsushika Hokusai (The great wave dude), Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Joseph Beuys, Jimmy Durham, Damien Hirst, Tracy Emin, Constable, Turner, Anish Kapoor, Gilbert and George. Many many more

7. What’s your favourite thing about working at Union?

The gold lettering, the coffee and the music. Oh and working every day with a whole bunch of dedicated, passionate, talented mofos is pretty sweet too!!

8. What’s the most common question your get asked everyday?

I guess it has to be “How much for this?”

9. Who do you look up to?

I look up to my parents, my younger sister, my friends, my colleagues. I think it’s pretty important not to look down on people so looking up to as many people as possible seems like a good solution to that.

10.How do you stay inspired?

I’m not sure if I’ve found a single silver bullet solution to that. I think that there are so many things that feed into inspiration that they’re impossible to measure. Everything from seeing other people’s tattoos, a trip to an art gallery, flicking through a book to great music and enough sleep!! And everything in between! It’s a constant journey/process finding or maintaining inspiration but that’s part of what makes this craft special. You’re constantly challenging yourself on so many levels.

11.What’s your favourite brunch spot in wellington?

Club 121

12. What are your favourite things to do on a day off?

If I’m not drawing, painting or thinking about tattoos… I like movies, single malt whisky, House & Techno, beer, good food, political and economic theory and discussion, art, comedy and sleep. Not in any particular order but I’ll probably get involved in one or more of these things on my day off.

13. What’s you favourite movie?

So hard. Platoon is up there. Withnail & I is profoundly funny and profound. Total Recall (Original Arnie version) is highly underrated. In fact I’m a sucker for pretty much anything with Mr Schwarzenegger.

14. Favourite book?

The Water Margin: Outlaws of the Marsh. It’s an ancient Chinese epic with heroes, villains, wizards, monks, sex, violence, alcohol, swearing, honour, charity, compassion and redemption. Sort of a Chinese Robin Hood tale. I read it because Kuniyoshi did a series of woodblock print illustrations of the heroes and characters in the book and these became the basis of so many traditional Japanese tattoos. They’re still used today. It was a happy coincidence that it’s one of the best stories I’ve ever read!

15. Favourite Album?

“Pancake Day” by Mulligan & O’Hare.

16. Pineapple on or off pizza?

On or off. I swing both ways

17. Are you a cat or dog person?

Cats every time!

18.Long black or flat white?

A strong cup of tea with a splash of milk. I lose my British Passport if I stop drinking tea.

19. Indian curry or thai curry?

Indian but you can’t knock a good Thai.

20. What would your last meal be if you were on death row?

Jelly and ice cream

What should I do on the day I get tattoo?

On the day of your tattoo make sure you’re well rested, get a good nights sleep the night before and have something to eat before you arrive. Usually people faint because they have low blood sugar so having a good breakfast or lunch before your tattoo is important.

We have coffee, tea and water available for all our customers but you may wish to bring some snacks or lunch with you if you are in for a long tattoo session.

Don’t come in hung over or drunk, you will bleed more and fidget a lot, which makes the whole process slower and more painful for you.

Make sure you arrive on time, at the time stated on your appointment card, if you are running late then please call the shop to let us know, do not send us a facebook or instagram message as we don’t check our social media accounts during the day, the only way to get through and make sure we have received your message is to call.

If you want to make any changes to the design tell your artist, this is your tattoo and it will be on you forever, so we are more than happy to make any changes. For us its best to do this when you see the drawing, not when we put the stencil on or when we are just about to start the tattoo. So if you want to change something speak up, we won’t be offended, we want you to be happy with your tattoo.

A stencil will be made on a special transfer paper and stuck onto your skin, this will enable you to see the size and placement of your tattoo, this is very easy to rub off and re apply until it is right. So if you want to make it bigger or smaller or move it a little just let your artists know, and we’ll happily move it until its right.

If you are feeling faint or unwell at any time during your tattoo then please let us know, we’re used to this so there is no need to feel shy or embarrassed, it happens.

If you need to go to the bathroom, grab a drink, food or a cigarette just let your artist know, they will cover up your tattoo before you leave the work area.

Don’t touch your tattoo, the skin around it or any clothing that has come into contact with the fresh tattoo. This helps minimize the risk of anything getting into your fresh tattoo and also stops and germs getting into the broken skin. It also reduces the risk of cross contamination in the studio between clients.

Your welcome to bring someone with you but its best not to bring a huge entourage of people, our studio is fairly small and there is not a lot of room in the work area especially when it’s a busy day. So its best to bring one friend or family member. If you do need to bring more people they will have to wait in our waiting area.

We currently don’t have a card machine at the studio so we only accept cash, come prepared or there is an ATM nearby.

Your artist will explain the aftercare to you, you will need to buy an aftercare product to use on your tattoo, we recommend tattoo tonic which is available at the studio to buy or you can use bepanthen cream of cocoa butter.

Please do follow the aftercare instructions, once you have left the studio taking care of your tattoo is your responsibility, if a little bit scabs more than the rest and looks patchy  or it gets knocked or doesn’t heal 100% just pop into the studio and we can touch it up for you, unless you have done something crazy and not followed the aftercare procedure Touch ups are free.

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