Tattoo Art: From Skin To Print
In this artist spotlight, we chat with tattoo artist Rhianne Gabrielle Philip, known for her emotive figurative works blending traditional and neo-traditional tattoo styles. After leaving her fashion design studies to pursue her passion for tattooing, Rhianne has established herself as a versatile tattooist rendering stunning realism, classic motifs, and modern reimaginings.
In our 'Tattoo Art' exhibition, Rhianne unveils two art prints that encapsulate her tattooing philosophy - clean lines, balanced negative space, and strategic colour allow the designs to thrive equally on walls and skin. 'Rosie' brings Victorian portrait inspiration into the modern era with contemporary accents, while 'Serena' channels 1920s elegance through a traditional tattoo lens. Both pay homage to enduring historical styles while asserting Rhianne's distinctive approach.
Join us as Rhianne shares the emotive drive behind her creative process and desire to craft uplifting art across mediums. Hers is a story of chasing artistic purpose over convention to spread joy far beyond the tattoo parlour.
Rosie by Rhianne Gabrielle Philip
Traditional Tattoo Style Art Print
So Rhianne, tell us a bit about yourself…
As a self taught artist with an interest in figurative art, I studied fashion design and illustration at university (UWE) to later leave without graduating because I fell in love with tattoo art and realised that was what I should be doing. I began my quest to get a Tattoo Apprenticeship to learn how to tattoo so I could bring my designs to life. Now a fully fledged Tattoo Artist, I enjoy Tattooing Realism, Traditional and Neo Traditional. Art prints are made in my spare time.
Tell us about your artworks in our ‘Tattoo Art’ exhibition…
Rosie is a classic lady head drawn and painted in my version of traditional tattoo art and modernised with chrome jewellery and a heart tattoo. Her inspiration is based on Victorian ladies posing for photography or portraiture, but drawn and painted in a simplistic way, with clean lines of one weight and instant gradient blends with sufficient empty skin that can breathe, so that as tattoo flash this design will be able to be tattooed quickly with minimal trauma to the skin, which ensures good healing and good longevity as the ink settles into the skin over the years with enough room to to spread.
Serena is inspired by the Spanish flappers of the 1920's. Drawn and painted in classic traditional style to both look like and work as tattoo flash. The colour palette is limited with a balanced black x colour x open skin ratio for breathability and longevity for the skin as a tattoo and aesthetic as artwork.
Serena by Rhianne Gabrielle Philip
Traditional Tattoo Style Art Print
What do you hope to accomplish with your work?
I would like my work to make others happy. Whether that is on their skin or framed in their homes/work spaces.
What does art/your creative process mean to you?
Art is emotion for me. I'm naturally drawn to pieces that make me feel. From moody atmospheres in colours, to the energy in how the techniques were applied. My creative process is similar, I have to feel what I am doing. Even if there is no obvious or intentional narrative, I will discover/create one as the rough sketch develops, this will form the character, mood and emotions of the figure, give it a life. So the final image is more of a freeze frame.
Check out Rhianne's prints in our 'Tattoo Art' online art exhibition.