21-year-old breaking barriers in tattoo industry

At just 21 years old, Arielle Leacock is already making waves in the world of tattoo artistry. The owner of Exotic Ink 246 has made a name for herself at the Barbados International Tattoo Fest, winning the title of Best Greek-themed Tattoo. But Arielle’s journey to success is as remarkable as her skills with a tattoo machine.

An alumna of The Alleyne School, Arielle is currently a final year student at the Barbados Community College, where she’s pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Arts (Fine Art). Her decision to start her own tattoo business, Exotic Ink 246, was born out of her desire to become an entrepreneur and a determination to challenge the status quo.

Arielle shared her motivation, saying: “I wanted to challenge myself to break barriers and hopefully inspire others to do the same. Tattooing in Barbados is primarily a male-dominated industry so I wanted to showcase what I could do with all of my artistic talents.” Her journey into the world of tattooing began at the age of 14, under the guidance of her father’s close friend, Otis, a veteran in the tattoo industry who taught her the ins and outs of the craft.

With years of training and dedication, Arielle launched her business, Exotic Ink 246, in 2021. Explaining her unconventional choice in career path, she said: “Three years ago, I was contemplating my future and the types of artistic jobs I could pursue due to my artistic background in Barbados. Normally, the usual options are becoming a graphic designer, nail technician or art teacher.None of these positions appealed to me so I thought why not become a tattoo artist.”

Arielle’s pursuit of a career in tattooing is more than just an artistic choice; it’s a journey to break stereotypes and inspire others. She recognised the dearth of female tattoo artists here and decided to challenge the norm. Her passion and determination paid off in spades at the October 7-8 Tattoo Fest, where she claimed the title of Best Greek-themed Tattoo and secured second place in the Best Large Colour Tattoo category.

She shared her experience. “I had technical issues with one of my printers and got delayed by almost two hours, so it was a little frustrating at first if I am honest. Eventually, the problem was solved, and I kept my composure to get the task done. I was in utter disbelief when the judges called out Exotic Ink which can be found on Instagram (@exoticink 246) not once but two times making me the youngest person to win such prestigious awards.”

Arielle is quick to credit her family for their unwavering support in her journey to becoming an international tattoo artist. Her family has allowed her to practice her art on their bodies, a testament to their belief in her talents. She’s especially grateful to her father, who invested in her first set of tattooing equipment, setting the foundation for her business.

For aspiring tattoo artists, Arielle offers this advice: “Never doubt your intuition, be patient, optimistic and do not expect to be great overnight because excellence requires time and dedication.” (PR/BT)