Mavericks Tattoo Parlour opens in Diss

When Lia Tunbridge-Shepherd and her husband Gordon visited Diss four years ago, they not only fell in love with the town, but also a little shop in Cobbs Yard.

The premises, occupied at the time, became available this year and the couple jumped at the chance to fulfil a long-held dream of opening a new tattoo and piercing shop.

“I wasn’t attracted to work in a place like Ipswich, although there are a lot more people there,” said owner and piercer Lia.

“You lose the intimacy with the clients and I think it’s sometimes better to go for a smaller market where you know your clients and they know you. You can become extended family or friends.”

Mavericks Tattoo Parlour is made up of Lia, husband Gordon, who comes to work at the shop a few times a week when he is not busy running his own parlour in Woodbridge, and tattoo artist Jane Shaen-Carter.

“My husband is absolutely incredible at cover-ups and he can turn something really terrible into something amazing,” said soon-to-be-mother-of-three Lia.

“That is a bit special, because not everyone wants to touch the work of another artist. But for him, as a challenge, he loves it.”

At the moment, 85 per cent of the work they do is cover-ups and many people also request black work, which is composed of abstract patterns and geometric shapes.

“We do so many different styles, we don’t just stick with one,” said Lia, who has worked in the industry for more than six years.

“Whatever the interest or style, we can find the right person to do it.”

The shop, which is hoping to build on its customer base in the weeks to come, is open between Monday and Saturday, from 10am to 5pm.

Walk-ins are welcome but bookings are recommended.

READ MORE: Town café set to open this month

To request prices or information, contact Mavericks on Facebook or visit the shop in Cobbs Yard.