PA Stock image of a tattooist
An English teacher has abandoned her text books and homework grading in favour of a more creative life and a different kind of marking - as a tattoo artist!
Helen Brice, 24, said she decided teaching wasn't for her after completing her training, and thought she would return in some form to her first love, painting and art.
"I have always wanted to do something with art," she told her local paper. "I was really good at art at school and I trained as an English teacher, but then decided it was not quite the job for me. I wanted to do something more artistic so I trained in tattoos."
Helen, who has nine inkings on her own body, finished her tattoo training in October, and began looking for a studio to work from in Brentwood, Esssex.
She says that tattoos have now become acceptable and people's perceptions about them have changed.
"From my experience people are slowly changing their minds," she said. "You can have tattoos and be totally respectable and educated."
Her new venture is called Tattooing by Lady Mischief, and offers a £60 per hour bespoke service.
"I am so good at art, I am really lucky to have this talent," Helen said. "It's quite difficult finding tattooists who are really, really good. At my place it's friendly and relaxed and there aren't loads of butch guys hanging around."