Sharp idea for a new business

A tattoo artist has teamed up with two brothers to open a parlour in Tring '“ and it is thought to be the first ever in the market town.
Brothers Martin, left, and Ben Fitzgerald with manager Duncan Lambert and apprentice Sophie Carwardine at Sons of Ink in TringBrothers Martin, left, and Ben Fitzgerald with manager Duncan Lambert and apprentice Sophie Carwardine at Sons of Ink in Tring
Brothers Martin, left, and Ben Fitzgerald with manager Duncan Lambert and apprentice Sophie Carwardine at Sons of Ink in Tring

Duncan Lambert is looking forward to getting creative in new studio Sons of Ink in Western Road, Tring, which is now owned by brothers Martin and Ben Fitzgerald.

The pair, from Weston Turville, are painters and decorators by trade and have refitted the shop – formerly Hunters estate agents – giving it a more modern style.

Ben, 24, said: “We’ve done something different and contemporary. We’re really excited to get up and running.

“We’re going to have a young male barber doing trendy haircuts and hopefully it will encourage more people up to this end of the town.”

Ben says the quirky name is a tribute to one of the brothers’ favourite American TV shows, Sons of Anarchy. And the siblings are no strangers to running their own business, as they set up their own clothing label in Aylesbury.

Tattoo artist Duncan, who worked at Aylesbury Ink for four years, is hungry for a new challenge and will be managing the new business, which will offer tattoos, piercings and male hairdressing.

The 31-year-old said: “Until about 10 years ago I had no idea about the artwork that can be done with tattoing. Up until then, I thought all tattoos were tribal!

“I’ve never really settled in a job until now, but I’ve found my niche.”

Duncan revealed that he got his first tattoo done at the age of 19 – as a ‘middle finger’ to his brother!

He said: “I wore a lot of bands around my wrists and he told me I would have to take them off when I got a job, so I thought I would make it more permanent by getting a band tattoed on.”

He now has eight designs inked on, including a full sleeve of skulls.

Duncan said: “The first person I tattooed was myself – how could I expect anyone else to trust me if I didn’t trust myself?”

Talking about the pain factor, he said: “I’ve had men the size of small cars crying like a baby when I’m tattooing their calf, and then I’ve had 5ft skinny women giggling through it.”

Duncan will be joined in the studio by apprentice Sophie Carwardine, and to celebrate the business launch there will be special offers and discounts.

The team are aiming to open the doors on Monday, April 25.

For more information, search ‘Sons of Ink’ on Facebook or visit www.sonsofink.co.uk

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