TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY: SIMON AND LYNNE VOGT

One of Australia's and especially Adelaide's best known tattooists Gomer has finally opened his own studio, The Body Art Shop, located at 58a South Rd. West Hindmarsh, Sth. Australia. I could have nearly done this interview without going into the shop as Gomer and I have become quite good friends over the past 6 - 7 years. He has done approximately 200 hours on myself and at 3 - 4 hours per sitting you tend to talk about all sorts of things and get to know each other fairly well. Gomer has been tattooing for 11 years and is truly one of the most devoted and popular good guys of the industry.

Gomer has been involved in the P.T.A.A. for many years, the last three as state representative and recently he retired from this position but still attends meetings and helps with the state shows and any other functions they have as well. After the birth of his twins Edward and Grace (Gomer also has two elder offspring, Danny and Haley) he discovered he had limited spare time to do much else other than tattoo. So with the birth of his twins and finding the perfect location for his new studio, Gomer could see the potential of the place and went to work with considerable help and the shop came to life as he had planned. It's a very friendly shop with a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of designs and books if customers want to find that certain design or idea.