Mick Squires
With over 15 years of experience, Mick has become a renowned figure in the tattoo industry, recognised both nationally and internationally for his expertise in color realism. He has traveled the world, creating tattoos and hosting seminars to help other artists refine their craft in countries such as the USA, England, Germany, and New Zealand. Mick's specialisation lies in realistic black and grey and color tattoos, ranging from pet portraits to wild animals and even portraits of people.
When he's not tattooing, you can find Mick at our Brew Bar, perfecting the art of coffee-making.
Kitty Dearest
With over a decade of experience, Kitty is just as passionate about tattooing now as she was during her apprenticeship, when there were few female tattooists in the industry. Her love for tattooing animals is evident in her signature illustrative style, particularly when it comes to pet portraits. Kitty is also known for her expertise in floral and botanical designs and has a soft spot for anything Harry Potter or book-related.
When she's not creating beautiful tattoos, Kitty can be found with a good book in hand, ranging from classic literature to young adult fantasy fiction, with her snoring bulldogs by her side. She also loves scuba diving in warmer waters and crushing stereotypes at the local Crossfit gym.
Fabz
With over 12 years of experience in tattooing, Fabian originally hails from the beautiful island of Vanuatu. After moving to the Gold Coast, Australia in 2003, he finally settled in Melbourne in 2014 to establish The Black Mark. Throughout his career, Fabian has traveled extensively, participating in conventions and guest spots all around the world. His passion lies in creating dynamic realistic images, in both color and black and grey, as well as incorporating neo-traditional designs with a touch of realism.
When not tattooing, Fabian spends time with his amazing partner Natasha, their beautiful daughter Esme and adorable long-haired dachshund Bella. He loves pushing his limits with heavy barbells and impressive gymnastics on his homemade and perhaps questionable Crossfit setup, or exploring the ocean through surfing or free dive spearfishing.
Dan Mawdsley
Dan is an experienced tattooist with a passion for pop culture and realism. With 10 years of tattooing under his belt, he started his journey in a small town in central Victoria before settling in Geelong for university. He explored a few different industries before finding his true calling in tattooing at the age of 28.
Dan has worked in two local studios in Melbourne before joining The Black Mark team in 2017 where he is now part owner. He has also traveled extensively to learn from some of the finest artists and continuously improve his skills. Dan likes to travel for guest spots and conventions whenever possible to gain new experiences.
As a self-proclaimed closet nerd, Dan loves talking about pop culture with his clients, including movies, TV shows, music, art, comics, cartoons, anime, video games, and especially Star Wars. These are also his favorite subjects to tattoo, but he strives to be diverse and works across most styles.
When Dan is not tattooing or talking about pop culture, he can be found playing music, golfing, watching the NBA, or indulging in other sports that he loves.
Elric Gordon
Elric is an accomplished tattoo artist who is now part owner of The Black Mark. With over 10 years of experience, having won multiple awards for his stunning black and grey tattoo work. From a young age, Elric knew that he wanted to be a tattoo artist, and his passion for tattoos and dedication to his craft is evident in every piece he creates. As an artist, Elric is always exploring new mediums and pushing himself to grow creatively, with charcoal being his favourite.
When he's not in the studio creating tattoos, Elric enjoys attending music gigs and relaxing with a good documentary. However, spending time with his partner Sara, his two wonderful children, and their furry companion Cai is what truly brings him joy. Whether they're skateboarding, playing basketball, drawing together, or watching funny YouTube videos, Elric cherishes these moments with his loved ones.
Daffy
Daffy is a black and grey realism tattoo artist based in Melbourne. Originally from Alice Springs, he has lived and worked across Australia, managing bars before discovering his passion for tattooing. In 2015, he managed a tattoo studio in Moonee Ponds before transitioning to an apprenticeship at another studio a year later.
Drawing on his experiences working with some of Melbourne's best artists and getting tattooed by talented artists from around the world, Daffy has developed a diverse range of skills and loves to tattoo a wide range of imagery. From religious statues and sculptures to dark horror and surrealism, Daffy is always eager to take on a new challenge and push his artistic abilities to the limit.
When he's not tattooing, Daffy enjoys spending time with Wife and dogs, indulging in his love of documentaries and cult TV shows like Game of Thrones and South Park.
Mitch Goldsbrough
Mitch is a talented portrait and realism artist who joined The Black Mark team in 2020 when he moved to Melbourne with his wife Oke. He started his tattooing journey in 2009 in a small tourist town in NSW and now co-owns the same studio where he did his apprenticeship.
Mitch gained extensive experience and a versatile skill set during his "street shop" apprenticeship, learning every style of tattooing and the importance of creating tattoos that stand the test of time. He specialises in portrait and realism tattoos and brings his enthusiasm and passion to every piece, whether it's a memorial portrait, landscape, animal or even a car tattoo.
Clients appreciate Mitch's infectious energy and dedication, with one once telling him that they knew they were going to get a good tattoo when the artist was more excited than they were. Mitch's love for his craft has only grown over the years. When he's not creating art on skin, you'll find him hanging out with his Wife and Son, driving, fixing and racing classic cars, practicing boxing, or listening to country rap music.
Nath Holden
With a decade of experience in tattooing, Nathan has found his niche and is dedicated to creating solid neo-traditional tattoos that feature animals, mythological creatures, and custom characters.
As a huge movie and TV series enthusiast, Nathan loves creating neo-style portraits of popular characters from franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horror movies.
Outside of work, Nathan is passionate about fitness, music, cinema, traveling, ancient history, sports, food, and wine. He is always up for a chat about your interests during your tattoo session.
Dylan Freeman
Dylan is a talented tattoo artist who specialises in American traditional designs. He has been tattooing for three years and honed his skills in Newcastle, NSW. Dylan's signature traditional American style is characterised by straight, thick, and crispy lines, which he is passionate about perfecting. Whether working from his flash designs or creating custom pieces, Dylan puts his heart and soul into each tattoo.
Outside of the studio, Dylan leads a light-hearted lifestyle and loves to laugh and goof around. Dylan is an avid gamer, diving head first into FPS’ and RPG’s, Rainbow 6 and The Last of Us being personal favourites.
He is a chilled-out sweetheart who is always happy to chat and make his clients feel at ease. With his expertise and laid-back personality, Dylan is sure to create your next favourite tattoo.
Aidan James
Aidan has been tattooing for over a decade and has vast experience in all styles of tattoos. However, his focus has shifted to solid line work, specifically relating to floral, mandalas, and black work styles. Aidan's ultimate goal is to create custom, individualistic pieces that align with his clients' personalities and body contours, thus establishing a deeper connection between the client and their tattoo.
Aidan enjoys spending time with his family and friends, particularly during the warmer months when camping trips and outdoor activities are in full swing. Aidan jumps at any opportunity to be outdoors, no matter the occasion.
In his free time, Aidan loves to explore his creativity through other mediums. He has a strong passion for music, leaning towards rock and roll and metalcore, and is always open to singing along to a good tune. He is also working on advancing his drumming skills and networking with other artists and musicians at gigs and festivals.
Elle Rose
Despite having only around three years of experience in tattooing, Elle has already established a distinctive style of her own, characterized by smooth blends and richly saturated colours. Her specialty lies in large-scale realism and neo-traditional designs, although she is equally comfortable working on tattoos of any size.
In addition to her craft, Elle is deeply passionate about various creative pursuits, including fitness, drawing, painting, singing, and music. These hobbies not only keep her energized and inspired but also inform her work as a tattoo artist.
With Elle's dedication to her art and her varied interests, clients can expect a unique and personalized experience that blends skill, creativity, and passion.
Ross “Yadokai”
Yadokai is a seasoned tattoo artist with over 10 years of experience. He has honed his craft at Tattoo Power in Canberra under the mentorship of Chris Cashmore, the founder of Inkjecta tattoo machines.
In pursuit of new challenges, Yadokai made the move to Melbourne three years ago and has found a new home at The Black Mark. Although his distinctive style draws inspiration from Japanese art, Yadokai is a versatile artist with expertise in a wide range of tattoo styles. He particularly enjoys creating Alien and Predator-themed pieces, showcasing his ability to bring to life any imaginative concept.
When he's not tattooing, Yadokai's passion for creativity extends to drawing, 3D sculpting, painting, and other artistic pursuits. A dedicated morning coffee ritual fuels his non-stop drawing and serves as a starting point for another day of mastering his craft.
Monika Ng
Monica is a versatile artist who has been tattooing for almost 7 years. She has worked in several studios, where she has developed a great passion for bold, rich colour tattoos. Her highly detailed pieces often reflect her love for the mythology and fantasy that influence art and she likes imagining back stories for her pre-drawn custom designs. She enjoys tattooing a range of different subjects in Neo and realistic styles, but admits she has a particular fondness for large painterly florals, oriental Knick-knacks and beautiful mysterious women.
Prior to fulfilling her dream of becoming a tattoo artist, Monica studied and worked in fashion and costume. She loves IceCube, Terry Pratchett, opshops and being a huge goof.
Simon Turner
Simon has been tattooing now for around 10 years, starting in Melbourne and spending several years in the USA developing and honing his style before returning back to Melbourne in 2019.
While specialising in black work and black and grey, with a background in graphic design and illustration, Simon has aimed to refine his own take on all things medieval, occult, religious and devilish in his designs and tattoos, drawing inspiration from classic old woodcuts, etchings and even 80’s styled thrash/skate design.
When not tattooing Simon enjoys rides, hikes, music, gigs, drinks with friends, and a good crate dig.
