Finding a committed tattoo apprentice isn’t easy – something award-winning Swindon artist Tarren “Taz” Malham knows all too well. After years of searching for someone with talent, dedication and the right attitude, she finally discovered the perfect candidate in the most unexpected place: her best friend of 20 years, Liz Dowdell.
Taz, who runs Ruby Lou’s Tattoo Studio at the Orbit Centre on Ashcroft Road, has been tattooing for 18 years. She began her own journey as an apprentice before opening Ruby Lou’s in 2011, building a reputation for exceptional work, national awards and even a career as a published book illustrator.
Passionate about raising standards in an industry she feels is becoming too easy to enter via short online courses, Taz had tried taking on apprentices before – but no one truly fit the bill. That changed when Liz, who had watched Taz build her career from day one, decided the time was right to follow the same path.
Two years later, Liz is now on the cusp of becoming a fully qualified tattoo artist and will soon join Taz as a full member of the studio.
“I trialled one or two apprentices, but they just weren’t what I was looking for,” Taz said. “When Liz said she wanted to train, I was over the moon.”
Liz, who had taken time out to raise her children, brings a wealth of creativity of her own. “We’ve been best friends since the day we met,” she said. “I’ve lived Taz’s tattoo journey with her, and once the kids were a bit older I knew this was what I wanted to do. I haven’t looked back.”
Ruby Lou’s isn’t just known for tattoos. The studio also offers brow and scalp micropigmentation, and Taz is regularly recommended by a local surgeon to create areola tattoos for breast cancer patients, helping women reconstruct their confidence after surgery.
Both Taz and Liz are neurodiverse, and they’ve made it a priority to ensure the studio is a safe, calming space for neurodiverse clients, something they say has become one of their strengths.
As Liz prepares to qualify, the pair are excited to grow the business together – a full-circle moment that started with a friendship and ended with a flourishing partnership.
More info about Ruby Lou’s Tattoo Studio can be found at their website.
