The Leap That Started It All

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If you told me 20 years ago that I’d be spending my days creating intricate designs and permanently inking them onto people’s skin as a tattoo artist, I would’ve simply laughed and gone back to my studies in pursuit of a “regular” job.

 

I’m 43 now, originally from Vancouver, Canada, and I’ve been based in Singapore for the past 12 years. My journey here began in the corporate world, working for a company called Ten Group — a UK-founded business that scaled quickly in its early years, offering a unique lifestyle concierge platform. After eight years in London with Ten, I was offered the chance to move to Singapore to help develop and lead our business across Asia.

 

My wife, Virginia, and I decided we needed a change — and some sunshine — so we took the leap. Like many expats, we came for work but stayed for the life. And I’ve never looked back.

 

Finding Purpose in Permanence

 

I genuinely enjoyed my corporate years — the structure, the teamwork, the sense of progress. Ten Group was an amazing place to grow as a professional, and the opportunities, especially when we expanded into Asia, felt endless.

 

But eventually, I started craving something more tangible from work. I’ve always admired people who work with their hands — carpenters, painters, even surgeons — and how their craft unfolds right before their eyes.

 

Tattooing had fascinated me for years. It felt like the perfect balance of creativity, discipline, art, and technical skill. Still, I was afraid to admit it was what I truly wanted to do. Leaving a successful corporate career for an uncertain path in the arts felt risky — especially with a young family to support.

 

But a few chance moments, a supportive partner, and some close friends gave me the push I needed. Eventually, I left my company to pursue tattooing full-time.

 

Building a New Chapter at Vagabond Ink

 

I started out in one studio, learning the ropes and building my foundation. More recently, I joined my friend’s studio, Vagabond Ink — one of Singapore’s most respected and creatively driven tattoo studios.

It’s been an incredible chapter so far. Not only because of the projects I’ve had the chance to work on, but also because I’ve found that sense of teamwork again — something I’d missed since leaving the corporate world. That energy reminds me of what I loved most about my earlier career: collaboration, shared ambition, and collective growth.

 

While I’m still early in my tattooing journey, joining Vagabond Ink has already been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

 

Learning Through Discomfort

 

Tattooing has answered that craving to create with my hands. It carries a unique sense of finality and permanence — every piece you create lives on in someone’s skin. That reality fills me with both purpose and gratitude.

 

But it’s far from easy. Along with the high stakes of creating something that lasts forever, there are plenty of challenges every new artist faces: filling your books with clients, exploring new styles, refining technique, and constantly pushing yourself outside your comfort zone.

 

My years in the corporate world taught me something invaluable — that growth only happens when you’re a little bit scared. I’ve carried that mindset into tattooing. When I hit a wall or feel nervous about a

project, I remind myself that discomfort is a sign I’m on the right path.

 

The challenges never stop — but neither does the satisfaction that comes with pushing through them.

 

Where I Am Now

 

The journey continues, and I know it won’t get easier anytime soon. But that’s the beauty of it. I feel very lucky to be doing something every day that matters deeply to me — something that challenges me, fulfills me, and connects me with people in a way I never imagined possible.

 

Tattooing isn’t just a job; it’s a craft, a dialogue, and a constant lesson in growth. And as I look back at how far I’ve come — from the corporate world and all that it involved to a tattoo studio in Singapore — I can say with certainty: I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.