Tattoo artist inks her way to success

A Toti tattoo artist relied on her 12 years of experience to win more awards at this year’s Ink and Iron convention and custom bike show at Marshall Motorcycles in Pinetown on Saturday, 16 August.

Wendy Pool (47) has always been involved in art, but learnt the skill of tattooing from her boyfriend, Jacques Bester.

This year she entered 15 tattoos from her shop Xtreme Ink in Beach Road and Jacques and her walked away with four prizes – best club colours, best biker-orientated tattoo, best old school tattoo and best chest tattoo. “We were the only artists from Toti to Margate that won, so I’m very chuffed. Thanks to everyone in Toti for their support,” she said.

“It’s an honour to do a tattoo on someone’s skin. I also airbrush motorcycles and cars, but that you can re-do them if you make a mistake. It’s an honour for someone to trust you to tattoo their skin, which they will carry for the rest of their lives.”

Wendy was born in Boksburg, but moved to Toti six years ago from Pinetown.

“We were the only shop in Toti when we opened six years ago. Now there are 12 tattoo artists and six shops in the area.”

Her son, Deon is also a tattoo artist, and trained under her and Jacques. “I raised him strict, so he doesn’t have many tattoos himself. He is only 22-years-old, but he already has six years experience.”

Wendy and Jacques are members of the Highway Dragons Motorcycle Club. Speaking of the competition, she said: “This is the only time we get recognition for our work.” Artists entered a total of 18 categories and this was the fourth year the competition was held in KZN.

“In 2011 we won nine categories. The next year we won eight categories and I won best female artist. Last year we won eight categories and I won Miss Ink and Iron.”

Most of her work is cover-ups. “People think it’s a quick way to make money. We need better policing of the industry. You don’t need any qualifications to tattoo and many ‘artists’ have no respect for people’s skin.”