Dan Smith Main
Dan Smith (born born in England but raised in New Zealand since the age of 6.) “I absorbed all aspects of British culture, most importantly music, before moving to New Zealand”.
Beginnings
He got his first tattoo in the kitchen of a house of a few friends who lived by acclaimed tattoo artist, Dean Parken. “I was exposed to a very unique education. Tattooing having the history it does there, sparked my interest early and after meeting Dean Parkin from Sacred Tattoo, my path was set. Hanging around Sacred (Sacred Tattoo in Auckland, New Zealand) with Dean and Dan Andersen was the best thing to happen to me. I took my first machine aquired from Adam Craft and what I had observed over the years of getting tattooed and applied it to what i knew i had to do”. Dan started tattooing in 2002 at the Body Art Shop in Adelaide, Australia.
As a tattoo artist, Dan has traveled all over the world including the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Holland, Hungary and now the United States of America.
Dan loves tattooing because it remains the one constant thing in his life. “Tattooing has been my backbone. It has got me through the hard times and has delivered some of the best.”
“After Meeting Jim Miner, Daniel Albrigo and Kat Von D the previous year, and remembering their extended invitation of being able to work along side them a little more permanently, it was all I needed. In 2004 I decided to make the huge move to California. Working at Inflictions
in Arcadia was my first taste of tattooing on American soil and I again, was able to stay busy and work side along stand up artists. In 2006, now spending all my time in Orange County, I started working at
Eric Maaske’s ClassicTattoo with Tim McAlary,Tom Moser, Colin Dowling and other greats.”
Mid 2008 after returning from a tour and visiting ex workmate and friend Kat Von D, He was asked to join the High Voltage team in Hollywood and He accepted. He have been there ever since, but still make time to visit the people who have helped Him along the way.
Career
Body Art Shop in Adelaide, Australia
His private studio in Santa Ana
LA INK
Style
Dan thinks that it is important to be competent with all styles of tattooing but western traditional, lettering and music tattoos are what he specializes in.
Dan Smith in Popular Culture
Being a part of LA INK has made him a big part of Tattoo pop culture today.
Business Ventures
Dan is also the lead singer for the band “The Dear and Departed” and have built a devoted following and boast quite a story, sharing stages with AFI, and avenged Sevenfold.
Honors
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