From fun to meaningful, Faversham’s Evermore Tattoo Studio offers a holistic skin illustration experience

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The warmth of feeling and the friendly advice from a troupe of super-talented artists has set Evermore Tattoos apart ever since it opened its doors in 2020.

Away from Faversham high street, the appointment-only tattooists can call on decades of experience among its inkers to offer a service that both first-timers and the seasoned recipients enjoy.

On Jubilee Way, founder Heather Moore, alongside artists Hollie Robinson, Ben Perrin and Kiki.Does.Tattoos, have created a welcoming atmosphere that allows the client to explore ideas while also receiving the crucial advice that goes into crafting the perfect skin piece.

In the wake of the pandemic, the appointment-only process was vital but has since been honed to allow for a feeling of an intimate cooperative space for the artists and clients to work together.

For anyone who has walked into a tattoo shop, it can be intimidating - not knowing who you are going to speak to and whether or not they will like your artwork ideas.

Clients of Evermore can message ahead with questions about designs, costs and any concerns they might have.

“We want to be approachable,” says Heather. “I remember people coming into other shops saying ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I just want this and sorry it’s boring’. But I absolutely love doing those little individual tattoos that someone might love. We’re a nice, comfortable space for people.

“I like working with people’s budgets as well, to be accessible. It’s not to sound cheap , but let’s look and see what we can come up with, rather than saying ‘This is the price’ and that’s it.

“Most people come in with an idea and if they haven’t got one, then we’ll narrow it down together.”

While Heather’s 17 years in the industry means she can turn her hand to numerous styles, if there’s a piece that requires something more specific, there are the skills in-house to create it.

“I really enjoy doing small and medium tattoos, but if somebody wanted a Japanese sleeve or a big back piece, I’ll point them in the direction of Ben, for example,” says Heather. “I’m like a regular street shop in that someone can come in and get whatever they want. That’s part of the excitement and the longevity of being a tattooist, to have it as a career that’s not just specialising in that one thing.”

Heather’s favourite tattoos include the kitsch, the colourful and the vintage, from 70s wallpaper and ceramics through to Mr Blobby and the Sylvanian Families tattoos she has on herself.

“I love doing small tattoos that are quite personal to people. I never ever question someone’s idea behind it.”

Having spent the first few years of her career in tattoo shops around Faversham and Canterbury, Heather set up Evermore to be more of a co-working space for tattooists than a straightforward walk-in shop. But her journey into the industry is a story in itself.

“I did go to art school - an excellent one, actually - but I ended up dropping out,” she recalls. “A mix of working-class imposter syndrome and getting pregnant with my first child led me to take a different path.”

When her grandmother passed away and left Heather a small amount of money, she used it to go and have a tattoo created.

“When I got tattooed, I thought ‘Oh, I want to do this’. And the guy who tattooed me gave me an opportunity,” she says. “I fell into it, really, and I asked a lot of questions, which was probably really annoying, but yeah I was so lucky to get an opportunity. Back then, you really did have to get an apprenticeship to get into tattooing. And it was a bit like getting into the Magic Circle.”

Juggling the need to support two small children alongside her new career, Heather battled confidence issues but stuck it out to develop her skin illustration skills as well as her network, meeting Ben in Evolution studio in Burgate, Canterbury, before moving to Three Crows in Castle Street.

“I value both the opportunities that have come my way and the people I’ve met along the journey,” says Heather. “I’m incredibly grateful to be making a living doing something creative.”

While extremely modest, Heather is actually in the business of creating highly sought-after works, from tattooing international celebrity Mia Khalifa with protest pieces to creating memorable, bonding artworks.

“A Facebook memory came up recently of four women I tattooed 10 years ago and it’s just a little squiggle of maternity logo thing, when they’d all graduated as midwives,” she says. “I think they all live in different parts of the country now, but they shared that memory again and how important it was to them. And even though the tattoo is just a little thing, it means so much.

“I like a meaningful tattoo because I like a story and I like people to tell me why they’ve got it. It’s nice if someone’s left with something that makes them feel better somehow.”