ARTISTS
Josh Waretini
Josh Waretini has always had a passion for art, from watching his mother’s creativity and absorbing the environment he was given from a very early age, Josh naturally began to draw his favourite cartoons which then became a regular passtime. Through Josh’s teenage years, he still drew from time to time but had decided on letting it go for a few years. By the age of 19, Josh decided to quit his day job and made it his personal goal to find a Tattoo Apprenticeship.
He started his Apprenticeship under Peter Norris & ‘Happy Dayze Tattoo’s’ in Lilydale, Melbourne for 2.5 years learning the fundamentals of Tattooing and gaining crucial knowledge of the medium, eventually moving on to work under Nick Dutt at ‘Tattoo’s R Us’ in Kilsyth, Melbourne for a further 2 years. Whilst working under Nick, Josh began to find his style, creativity and started developing a real passion for the artform.
Often travelling between Australia & New Zealand building a clientele in both countries and working guest spots in various studios, Josh eventually moved back to his home town of Christchurch in late 2015 when he was asked to assist with setting up the studio, ‘Barbers Ink’. Josh then went on to running the tattoo side of Barbers Ink for the next 2 years before forming a crew of like-minded creatives and opening Laneways Tattoo Studio in May of 2017.
VICTOR PRATTLEY
Growing up, Victor was often found with his head in a book, a sketchpad or the clouds.
With a lifelong passion for art, he describes himself as an artist first, who works in the medium of tattoo’s. His work is heavily influenced by his childhood, “I grew up learning to draw from Tin-Tin, Spawn Comics, Illicit Clothing catalogues, 60’s PlayBoy Magazines and my mothers tattered Meat-Loaf covers. I love creating a mood or a sense of story behind my work, like my art is a snapshot of a bigger story going on behind it”.
His chosen style is predominantly Neo-Traditional, mixing Pin-Ups, Art Nouveau and his aforementioned love of Comics to create custom one of a kind pieces of art for his clients. In his words, “As much as this is my art, I love being a part of someone else’s Tattoo Journey. Each person, each tattoo is unique and complex in reason or execution. I enjoy creating something special for my clients, tattooing it, then letting it go. I no longer have ownership over it then, its theirs. That’s what I love about tattooing and what makes it a totally unique art form and experience for the client and certainly myself”.
PIRI HOANI
Piri Hoani noticed his passion for art in his last years of high school when studying art & graphic design. After finishing high school he put his graphic design skills on hold and moved on to his next artform; Mahi Whakairo, Māori wood carving at Te Wananga O Aotearoa, a highly regarded Māori Institution in Rotorua.
Studying the arts of Māori carving, he unknowingly developed his style for Tā Moko (Māori Tattoo) which would soon lead to a new pathway and lifestyle. After a year of studying Māori carving, Piri then moved back to his hometown of Christchurch where he started his tattoo career.
A few years later he had an apprenticeship under his belt and a foundation set for his style of Tā Moko along with other styles of tattoo such as lettering, pointillism and mandala. 2 years of professional tattooing with Zealand Tattoo later, he decided to join the crew at Laneways Tattoo Studio and pursue his passion of tattooing further.
GRACE THORPE
Hi my name is Grace, I’ve been tattooing at laneways for 3 years. As I’ve always been a creative person, tattooing has been an awesome way to be able to share my art with others and I feel very lucky to have a job which allows me space to create authentically and develop as an artist. Outside of work I enjoy singing and writing and am working on putting out my own music.
GRACE THORPE
Hi my name is Grace, I’ve been apprenticing at laneways for 9 months. As I’ve always been a creative person, tattooing has been an awesome way to be able to share my art with others and I feel very lucky to have a job which allows me space to create authentically and develop as an artist. Outside of work I enjoy singing and writing and am working on putting out my own music.