TONI-LOU
English artist Toni-Lou moved to
southern France a few years ago and
now owns her own studio, Tetrodon,
in sunny Bordeaux. Her happy,
positive personality is reflected in the
fun-filled work she produces.Where were you from originally?
I’m a Yarmouth girl! I come from Norfolk. I was taught by
Joe Slatter, who’d been tattooing since the seventies. I did a
very old-fashioned apprenticeship with him that lasted seven
years. I definitely paid my dues! That was in the early
2000s.Do you think, even then, being a woman made it
more difficult to get an apprenticeship?
I think it got me the job in the first place. Joe wanted a girl
on the desk and he also needed a female piercer. And over
the years of doing desk work, cleaning and making cups of
tea, he agreed to let me tattoo. But yes, at that time there
definitely weren’t as many women in tattooing as there are
now. And Great Yarmouth is a very small town. Back then,
people would literally cross the road to tell me what wrong
life choices I’d made! And guys coming into the shop would
refuse to get tattooed by me.Interview by Lizzy • Pictures courtesy of Toni Lou