Downstairs in the studio we have clear lighting, bold contrasts and hard edges where we’ve carried the character through but hardened her with the sterility required to crush those pesky germs. On the ground floor we have a very cosy and welcoming environment with couches, soft furnishings, plants and lots of objet d’arte inhabiting all of the nooks and crevices, guilded with paintings from artists and friends. How would you describe the shop, aesthetically?Īesthetically, Circle of Swords has quite the dichotomy. It seems to have gotten pretty trendy these past few years and that’s all down to the influx of thriving independents setting up, we think that’s pretty cool. Worcester is a cool city though, growing and developing all the time. Over the past few years, Worcester’s student population has exploded which has shifted the direction of tattoos in the area to more one-shot tattoos where as tradionally we’d mostly do larger scale work. I think that as Worcester is a relatively small city, everyone tends to get on and we have collaborated with other studios in the past for flash days. We have people doing sick trad work, some amazing black and grey and even some stuff that we’re too old to name. There are some really good tattooists in Worcester, like any community there are people you get on with, some you don’t and some you have just never had the pleasure to meet. What’s the tattoo scene like in Worcester? Circle of Swords Tattoo Studio, Worcester (UK) Worcester has got some great food options for lunch and the Deliveroo riders are on first name terms with Katie. Most days are pretty chilled out at the shop, the gang are all in charge of their own bookings and clients so everything tends to go smoothly. Blossom, our dog, is the real boss around here though and most people really just come to see her. Prior to this year’s stresses we would often be found eating out together, or hanging in the shop after hours. We’re all very close and have quite a familial relationship with the ups and downs that any family has. Piers was the first to join the team, and most recently came Thomas, then Maisie and Sarah. It’s just Good Honest Tattooing at the end of the day, and that’s what we stand for. At Circle of Swords we strive to take the path of right, even if sometimes it may be a little slower and sometimes more difficult. In life and business there are a lot of easy routes, quick bucks to be made and it’s very easy to move on. The sword represents a duty, an oath, but it is a privilege to carry one. We live inside a magical industry and we, as artists, are responsible for it. We feel that, like Camelot, tattooing is something that sould be protected and defended. We took our name from the Arthurian legend of the round table and the image of the swords being placed upon it. Where does the name of the studio come from? However, through a significant diet change and exercise Loz’s health has improved drastically. At this time, Katie had also been made redundant from her previous job, so the timing was just right to make a bold move. Having our own business would provide something of a safety net for if Loz’s health did degrade further. It started to look as though Loz may have to either have to reduce his hours significantly, or maybe stop tattooing all together. We decided to open our own studio when a chronic condition that Loz has had since he was a teenager began to worsen. We did have a fair amount of help from some great people, specific shout out to Adam Thomas, our friend who also happened it be a very good joiner and carpenter. We did the work ourselves and had many a late night. We wanted something that is truly built to last and that’s why we poured our souls into building the place over the seven or so months it took to refit, it was a rundown sandwich shop before and there as a lot of work to do to. Loz and Katie, you opened the studio in 2016: where did the idea come from? Meet Loz, Katie, Piers and Thomas! Loz, Circle of Swords Tattoo Studio, Worcester (UK) It opened its doors in October 2016, and the concept was always to bring the best of modern tattooing with traditional values. Circle of Swords is located in the UK, in the heart of Worcestershire Sauce City (Worcester).
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