"I wasn't 18 anymore. I had a family, a successful business... and I wondered if it was too late to start again."
Before discovering tattooing, Jessica was building a successful career as a nail technician—a profession she still enjoys today while continuing to grow her tattoo business.
Like many people considering a career in tattooing, it wasn't a lack of passion that held her back.
It was confidence.
"I had a stable income, a family and responsibilities. Starting a completely new career felt scary. I kept thinking... am I too old to start again?"
After researching tattoo courses online, Jessica found Monumental Tattoo Academy. Although there were training providers much closer to home, something about Monumental stood out.
"I spent time looking through the artists' work on Instagram and immediately felt that this was where I wanted to learn. I drove more than three hours to attend the Tattoo Taster Day, and then travelled to London for the 3-Day Intensive."
Despite already practising on fake skin before the course, self-doubt was never far away.
"I remember thinking, 'Why am I doing this? Maybe I'm not ready. Maybe I need more practice first.'"
Those nerves quickly disappeared.
"What surprised me most was how welcoming everyone was. The whole team were so friendly, encouraging and generous with their knowledge."
One moment, in particular, still stands out.
"After showing Aaron one of my practice skins, he smiled and said, 'You know what... that's actually pretty good for someone who's only just picked up a machine.' That little bit of encouragement gave me so much confidence."
After the course, Jessica continued practising while still running her nail business. She tattooed friends and family, gradually building both her skills and her confidence.
Six months later, she made the decision to take the next step, offering free and low-cost tattoos to gain experience and grow her portfolio.
Today, Jessica tattoos three days a week and is regularly fully booked around two months in advance—all while continuing to build the career she'd once convinced herself was too late to pursue.
Her advice to anyone considering tattooing?
"If you've got that little voice in the back of your mind telling you to do it... listen to it. Book the Tattoo Taster Day. At the very least you'll spend the day with genuinely lovely people and learn something new. But don't be surprised if you leave wanting to book the full course too."
When asked how tattooing has changed her life, Jessica laughed before answering:
"My back hurts even more now... but I honestly love every second of it."
Jessica
Atramentum