Colour Realism Tattoo Artist in Kelowna, BC

Hi, I’m Ashley, an artist, a lifelong student, and the person behind Ash & Ink Tattoo!

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When I was little, I was obsessed with Disney and dreamed one day I would become a professional "colourer". I loved drawing with pencil crayons and trying to make what was on the page look like something real. I didn’t know then that I’d eventually find a career where I could bring that same fascination with colour to someone’s skin! Before tattooing, I worked as an esthetician, lash educator and cosmetic tattoo artist. There were parts of that work I valued, but I wanted to spend my days doing something that felt closer to my heart. Moving into tattooing meant taking a leap without knowing exactly how it would turn out. I just knew I wanted to give myself the chance and keep going long enough to find my way.

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My first few years were spent doing simpler tattoos and linework while I gained experience. Then I discovered artists in Europe creating realistic colour tattoos with a level of depth and artistry that stopped me in my tracks. When I had the opportunity to learn from Torsten Malm, I knew this was the direction I wanted to take! I’m especially drawn to bold, saturated work with clear form and rich contrast. I think carefully about how a design moves with your body and how its details will read as it ages. And I’m always studying, practising and asking how I can make the next piece better. There’s a lot I want to create, and I’m excited about where this chapter is taking me.

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Florals have been a big part of my work so far, and they’ll always have a place on my heart, but I’m also excited to take on more animals, birds and imaginative projects = especially ideas that bring a little of a favourite story or an impossible world into real life. Your tattoo can carry a memory, celebrate someone you love, or simply be something you think is beautiful. I’ve been deeply moved by clients seeing a flower that reminds them of their grandparents’ garden. But “I just love it” is a reason I understand equally well.

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I’m gentle, a little quiet, and very invested in getting things right. If conversation slows down while I’m tattooing, I’m probably concentrating on a tiny detail. My cozy home studio welcomes one client per day, with time to settle in, ask questions and take breaks whenever you need them.

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And outside of all the colour theory and tiny details? I'm a wife and mom to two teenagers, and we have a chihuahua and australian shepherd. I love to hike the mountains around the Okanagan and I love coffee and sweets, while also aspiring to be a very athletic, healthy person. Those interests are still negotiating.