“As a child and throughout high school, I’ve always loved drawing and being creative,” Ms Elliott said.
She mentioned her parents had always been quite artistic as well.
“My dad loved it when he found out that I was going into the industry because he has his sleeves done,” Ms Elliott said.
Throughout the apprenticeship, Ms Elliott has been trained how to pierce and tattoo customers.
It has also given her the opportunity to showcase and sell her own artwork and drawings from inside the walls of the Tattoo Nation studio.
Ms Elliott said she had loved her apprenticeship, so far.
“Being able to get into tattooing and the art aspect of things is really amazing and learning piercing is something that I never really thought that I’d do, but I’m absolutely loving it.”
During the lockdown, Ms Elliott said it had been bittersweet.
“It was obviously difficult during the lockdowns, but I think post-lockdown, it was actually quite beneficial because there was such a backlog of customers waiting to get in,” she said.
“Everyone else in the studio was booked out during this time and this gave me the opportunity to take on a lot more work.”
In her role, Ms Elliott has thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and being able to show everyone her talents through her designs.
“You’re mostly given a direction rather than free rein to do whatever you like on someone, but every now and then, there are some people who will allow me to have a bit of artistic freedom,” Ms Elliott said.
Recently, after having invested in an iPad, Ms Elliott said it had enabled her to get more involved in the design process.
“When people come in with their ideas, I’ve now been able to spruce them up a little bit on the iPad.”