A VALE tattoo artist proved he was a cut above the rest by scooping an award at a national convention.
Chris Hallam, who works at Full on Ink on Port Street, beat off the competition to claim the Best Newcomer at the Industry Awards at a Liverpool Tattoo Convention.
The 32-year-old, who has been at the studio since November 2012, realised his ambition to be a tattoo artist shortly after he got inked for the first time.
“Through school the only thing I cared about was art and design, whether it be drawing or creating something, I just only really cared about being creative,” he said.
“I never really knew exactly what I would end up getting into but after I had my first tattoo done I knew I would make a good tattoo artist, if I could have the chance to be one I would make a good one.”
Chris, who studied photography at university, travels from Cheltenham every day to the studio and admitted he was ‘overwhelmed’ to win the prize and is keen to extend his own ability.
“It was just quite exciting being a part of it without even thinking I might win,” he added. “To find out that I won on the day was wicked. It was quite overwhelming and hard to describe.
“I’ve been gradually building up the tattoos I actually take on.
“Doing the simple areas on the top of the arm and outside of the leg are easier but its always good to test yourself for something that could be in a finicky area like the neck, which is a bit more scary because it’s viable all the time.
“I didn’t want to just end up in any old studio, although yes there are studios in Cheltenham, Terry Fuller (owner) has had it going for a while now and it’s a well known studio.”
