Danny Robinson is a world renowned tattoo artist and UK TV personality. Shooting to fame via MTV’s hit show Just Tattoo of Us, Danny has been able to showcase his incredible talent and great personality. Travelling around the world to feature as a guest at other well known tattoo studios, Danny has found his talent and his designs in high demand. An avid user of our Bear Grooming beard care range we had to talk to Danny to find out a bit more about how he got to where he is today, what is to come and of course what he thinks about the beard care:
What made you want to become a tattooist? Did you always know this is what you would do?
“When I was young I was amazed by my Grandad’s tattoos and when my Mum and Dad took my brother for his first tattoo I was just bewildered how he went into this shop and came out with a permanent stamp on his body, then at the age of 14 I went and got my own tattoo (of course I got grounded for it) but at that moment I knew this was something I wanted to get into. So as soon I was legal I bought my first tattoo kit and started practicing on myself watching tutorials online and then branching out and tattooing my pals”.
Did you start with a background in art and design before you realised designing and giving tattoos was for you?
“From as long as I can remember I was constantly drawing, I spent a lot of my childhood in hospital with my asthma and on the walls on the ward were cartoons and wall art and that’s when I first picked up a pencil and paper and started drawing, then as I got older I just put 2 and 2 together. I realised I was pretty good at this and my love for it helped grow it into a successful career”.
How does it feel to be recognised around the world and to be invited to be a guest in other tattoo studios? Does this sort of recognition drive you forward?
“It’s been very flattering getting recognised globally for my work, and it’s a strong force in making me want to grow as a human being and a tattoo artist. I want to get bigger and bigger in this business so I can help create even more opportunities for people who want to get in this game the correct way. I love what I do and being able to travel the world with it is the best bit. I love meeting amazing tattoo artists and the people behind the scenes creating the equipment”.
You created your own line of tattoo machines, the tattoo coil machine! How did this come about and tell us all about it!
“The “Danny Robinson” coil machines came about when I was approached by a manufacturing company who wanted to bring me on board and help them design machines under there company name. I noticed the success of the machines I was designing I wanted to bring my own machines to the market, so I travelled over to China met a great team and began designing and testing with different materials to bring out a strong reliable machine for a great price, making it affordable for people starting in the industry. When I first started out after I bought my equipment I didn’t have a penny to my name so buying a good quality machine for cheap was out the question – I hope with the Danny Robinson coil machines to have changed that”.
Being part of the MTV British entertainment reality tv show: Just Tattoo Of Us, how did this come about and has this opened and developed further paths for your career?
“I was at work and I got a phone call from an unknown number, I don’t usually answer calls like this but for some reason on this occasion I did, it was a casting agent from a company who had this idea for a Tattoo show for MTV, they asked my if I was interested. I was so I went to London and did some interviews, a few months later we got a call saying MTV want to try a pilot, at this time I was working in Los Angeles and everything just seemed to have fallen in place, I was on top of the world. A couple of days later I got a call saying MTV have scrapped the pilot and they’re going to fund a series straight away. I was elated and excited that I had been picked out of thousands of artists and 4 series later its getting stronger and stronger”.
What are your expansion plans for the Tattoo Lounge, should we expect to see Danny Robinson inspired Tattoo parlours across the globe?
“I have very big plans for the future, although there won’t be another Tattoo Lounge I have created a company sheltering the lounge called “The Robinson Company 1992”. I have so many ideas for studio names and looks so I have decided to plan a new studio under a different name, with a completely different image to what I have created here in Blackpool. I have been offered opportunities to open studios globally but that’s a “run before you can walk” situation so I’m perfecting what I have in the UK before I go international!”
How did you first discover our Bear Grooming beard care range? Was it through Sam T your next door neighbour to the parlour we understand?
“Yeah I have known Sam T since I was 14 and when I expanded my studio I had always wanted a barber shop inside the studio, when I got the opportunity to take the shop next door to mine and knock through it was a no brainer. I wanted to get a barber in and who better to have than the best guy I know and someone who’s been cutting my own hair for so long. So we got Sam in January and it’s been nothing but a success”.
Have you always sported the beard? We can see you have tried out a few styles over the time, which style of beard has been your favourite so far?
“I have always sported some facial hair because without it I look about 12, and I just feel more confident with it, it sounds silly but looking in a mirror and having facial hair gives me more confidence, my favourite by far is my current full beard look.”.
Which of the beard products are you loving most? How does the lady in your life feel about the sandalwood and black pepper scent?
“The products I love the most are your beard oil and beard wash they work so well together because since using them, my beard has felt soft and smells lovely. I love it and the Mrs loves how soft it’s been feeling since I’ve been using the product on a regular basis!”
