Sponsored Artist of the Month – Helen Warren

British tattoo artist Helen Warren creates black and grey realism tattoos from her own Nevermore Studio in Manchester.

Helen’s work is inspired by her history in graphic design and fine art, often portraying beautiful women and animals in softly shaded black and grey realism.

We spoke about how she got into the industry, the pieces she’s proudest of, and how to capture emotion in portraits!

When you were younger, what did you think you’d be when you grew up?

When I was younger, I thought I would be doing something to do with art – I’ve always loved creating.

How did you get into the tattoo industry?

I had wanted to get into the industry for a while. I was becoming disillusioned with working in the Graphic Design industry and wanted to get back into more of a fine art environment. It was a trip to a studio for a tattoo that helped me decide to give up my full-time job and start an apprenticeship.

Who helped you the most at the beginning of your career?

I was soon contacted by Sam Barber, who trained me and taught me everything I know. Jak Connolly also took me under his wing and gave me some invaluable black and grey training and knowledge. We all worked at Sam’s studio, North of Winter, and this experience in a large studio was pivotal.

What prompted you to open Nevermore Studio in Manchester, and how was the experience?

I had worked at North of Winter for a number of years, and after Covid, I felt the time was right to open my own studio. It was a fantastic experience building Nevermore studio from scratch, and I haven’t looked back.

How do you start the process of designing a tattoo?

Designing a tattoo is all done on my Mac, using Photoshop to manipulate images. Hours of scouring the internet for images, including my own library, and doing various concepts until I’m happy with the design.

What is the key to capturing emotion in your portraits?

I feel emotion is captured mostly in the eyes in portraits. This is key and why it’s so important to have good, clear references for your work.

Do you prefer making portraits of famous people or personal connections?

I honestly prefer famous people rather than personal for portraits, simply because there are far more references for famous people, with higher quality images and an instantly recognisable image. Personal portraits can be a difficult process if the photos are old or snapshots; you’re never sure if you have a true likeness.

Which of the tattoos you’ve done in the last year are you most proud of?

That’s a hard question - there are a few that come to mind! I’m really proud of my Ragnar tattoo; then there’s the Dead Silence clown, a portrait leg design done at Tattoo Tea Party, a portrait and filigree cover-up, a Freddy Mercury portrait, Anubis, a geisha-themed leg... there’s quite a few!

What music do you usually listen to while working?

When I’m working I usually listen to some heavy rock or grunge.

Can you talk us through your workstation?

My machine is the Cheyenne SOL Nova Unlimited, cartridges are Cheyenne and KWADRON, inks are World Famous Ink Legendary Black and White House. My opaques are either the Thomas Carli Jarlier or Poch Monochromatic sets. I usually have either INK-EEZE or Hustle Butter C.B.D. Luxe as my balm to work with, Hustle Bubbles foam wash, and my green soap is from Panthera.

Have you ever done a collaboration piece, or would you like to?

I haven’t done a collaboration unfortunately. I would like to, but I haven’t got anyone specifically in mind.

Would you like to experiment with more colour work?

I’ve done a fair bit of full colour work in the past, but I prefer black and grey. I do enjoy working with opaque colour though.

Are there any styles and themes you particularly enjoy working with?

I really enjoy the female face double exposure style, as there’s so much scope for creativity. I still really enjoy animal themes also.

Which tattoo artists are doing amazing work at the moment?

At the moment there are so many great tattoo artists! Some that come to mind are Thomas Carli Jarlier, Matteo Pasqualin, Jim Leclerc, John Hudic, Carlos Torres, Jak Connolly, Sarah Krone, Ralf Nonnweiler, but there are too many to mention!

If you could tattoo anyone or anything, who or what would it be?

I’d love to tattoo Dave Grohl!

Do you have any advice for tattoo apprentices?

I would advise them to watch and listen, take it all in. Practise and persevere: it will come together but there will be hard work, and you have to put the hours in.

How do you relax after a full day of tattooing?

My way to relax is to take the dog for a walk, get some air, then collapse on the couch away from my phone and laptop!

Do you create art outside of tattoos?

I would love to paint and draw outside of tattooing, but at the moment I don’t have the time.

Do you have plans for any guest spots or conventions?

I don’t have plans for guest spots, but I am excited to be doing The New York Tattoo Convention September 29 - Oct 1st.

What does the future hold for Helen Warren?

In the future I would like to be still tattooing - possibly have a larger studio with more space for other artists, hopefully near the sea or in the countryside, and creating more of my own art!