I'm Taking a Step Back From Tattooing

It's time for a change.

This has been a while coming, and I wanted to share it properly rather than quietly disappear. From October, I'll be stepping back from tattooing. It's not something I've decided lightly, and if I'm honest, it's not really a decision at all - it's just something I have to do right now. I've been doing this for over six years, and it's genuinely been a privilege: the trust people have put in me, the stories behind the pieces, the conversations in the studio. I don't take any of that for granted, and I'm so thankful for all the amazing people I've met along the way.

I've been running on empty for a while now, and ignoring it - but we don't get better by sticking our heads in the sand. My capacity for life has been narrowing bit by bit. A combination of ADHD, possible autism, peri-menopause, and depression, on top of family life being the priority, has taken its toll. I'm okay, by the way - just pretty exhausted and flat. I'm lucky to have great support around me (a huge thank you to my husband Matt), meds, and a good therapist. Not looking for sympathy here, just being honest. It is what it is, and I know I'm not the only one going through it.

But I've reached a point where something has to give, and I need to listen to that. I started painting again earlier this year and fell in love with it all over again. It's hard to put into words what it does for me - my head's been foggy for a while now, and everyday tasks take so much more out of me than they should. But when I paint, something settles. It's the one thing that actually quiets the noise. It's not just something I enjoy, it's something I need. Trying to split myself between two crafts isn't realistic at the moment - I don't want to do anything half-arsed, I want to commit fully.

If you've been wanting a tattoo from me, now's the time to book in before October. I've got plenty of availability between now and then, but I'd recommend booking sooner rather than later, as I anticipate appointments will book up quickly. Existing clients (and anyone with a voucher) will have priority, since you've stuck with me and trusted me, some of you for years now - that means a lot. Once I'm fully booked, I'll disable my design shop and appointments, so if you see those still open, that's your sign there's still space.

I'll be honest, I'm a bit behind on messages and emails at the moment, so please bear with me if I'm slow to reply. I am reading everything, just a little slower than usual.

Genuinely, thank you - to everyone who's trusted me with something so personal, recommended me to a friend, or just followed along. It's meant more than I can really say. I don't know what happens after this, whether it's a pause or something more permanent, and I don't want to pretend to have it all figured out. I just know I need to give this a proper shot.

Thank you so much for your understanding. If you'd like to follow what I'm up to art-wise, you can find me here - @cathwalls.studio

Cath x