Mo Twist

I had a rather different first time experience in the industry back in 2008. I went into business with my partner at the time to open up a tattoo studio on the south coast of NSW. I studied small business management so I could handle the business and marketing side of things, then when the shop opened I became manager, owner and apprentice all at the same time! A very challenging two years followed of running the shop and learning to tattoo. In 2010 tragic circumstances forced me to close the doors of the business and move on from the area. I moved back to Adelaide to be closer to my family and I was offered a job to work for Byron Dreschler in his brand new studio ‘Frontyard Tattoo’. Obviously an offer I couldn’t turn down! I worked under Byron for a year and I still feel blessed for the invaluable knowledge that he shared with me. I decided to go on a road trip in late 2011 when I ended up in Canberra working for Chris Cashmore at Tattoo Power. I was only supposed to stay for a week but I enjoyed it so much, I decided to stay on. My next plan was to head to the UK to live and work. I set off mid 2012 and started tattooing almost straight away. I landed a job touring music festivals tattooing out of a pimped double decker bus, which of course was amazing. I then did a guest spot in a hip, modern shop called The Tattoo Boutique in Liverpool where I worked in a stylish loft over looking the main street. Then came the time for me to ground myself and find a home away from home. I accidentally ended up in Edinburgh, Scotland where I found a job in an amazing studio just off the Royal Mile called Studio 13. I also did a few guest spots at a brilliant studio just outside of Glasgow called Chameleon Tattoo which is owned by Aussie tattooer Leon Bowen (son of Les Bowen). Then, inevitably, the homesickness set in and I took off back to my sun drenched home, Australia. Since my decision to move to Melbourne in early 2014, I have come along way artistically. I knew that living in such a creative city where the industry is booming would be a great influence. I had been wanting to try out ‘watercolour’ tattoos for a while and knew that Melbourne was going to be the place to make it work. So I made it my mission to pursue watercolour and abstract style tattooing. Now I can safely say it has become my strong point, or specialty even. I still enjoy creating all styles of tattoo art but watercolour is where my heart is. If you would like to enquire about having a piece of tattoo art made by me, please send me an email at: [email protected] Please send me an email if you own or work in a shop that welcomes guest artists as I am always looking for new places and people to get my creative juices flowing. Thanks for looking and I hope you like my work!