Journalist and Things & Ink founder @alicecsnape has been investigating sexual assault in the tattoo world for the past decade. Finally being able to update this @cosmopolitanuk #tattoometoo feature with an actual real name felt like a huge turning point. Does this mark a new era for the tattoo me too movement? Now that @ninacresswellwriter has won a libel case brought against her by tattooist Billy Hay (he tried to sue her for defamation, £75k in damages!). Nina can speak openly about the fact that Billy violently sexually assaulted her. The judge believed her. Will link to the updated feature in stories. You can also read through the link in @alicecsnape's profile. You can see the updates in this Instagram post too. What played out in that courtroom is evidence of what the tattoo world breeds. Billy's witnesses, JJ Jackson and Bez who owns Triplesix in Sunderland are complicit. They willingly protected Billy - the tattoo bros have all been doing it for years. Finally women bravely telling their truth are being believed. #tattoometoo #thingsandink #billyhay #jjjackson #tattoos #metoo #beztriplesix #sunderland #sexualassault #libel #defamation #goodlawproject

"I don't care if you like my tattoos" #tatcalling #thingsandink #womenwithtattoos #instapoetry

We’re so excited to reveal that @nationalmaritimemuseumcornwall has opened a brand new exhibition: Reclaiming the Narrative. The exhibition features 14 pieces of artwork by Black and POC tattoo artists, all working in the UK today. The artworks are a celebration of contemporary tattoo art on Black and brown skin and form a powerful artistic response to the museum’s 2017 exhibition Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed. Click link in bio to find out more. . . “We know that representation matters. This exhibit feels like an important addition, showcasing the work of Black and POC tattooers, making sure we are included in this particular record of tattoo history. It is a small sign of progress that the plaques and silicone arms used in this project are now available in a slightly more diverse palette, which one would hope will continue to expand. Offering a wider range of colours, skin tones, so that even more people would see a representation of their skin included in an exhibition like this," said @rizza_boo Reclaiming the Narrative's lead artist who created Starry Crown, the tattooed torso which forms the exhibition's centrepiece. . . #reclaimingthenarrative #tattoos #thingsandink #tattooexhibtion #tattoo #womenwithtattoos

We absolutely love a tattoo flash day. It’s so exciting being part of a tattoo party, making friends in the queue and choosing a flash design to have tattooed on you forever. On Saturday July 15th, @threekingslondon in Deptford are celebrating their third birthday with a flash day and evening of entertainment. We chatted to owner @amandatattoos to bring you everything you need to know. Link in bio and stories 👑 #threekingslondon #tattooflash #flashday #tattoodesign #londontattoos

"Cheeky blackwork plus cats" 🐈‍⬛ We chat to tattoo artist @oneskinnyleg about her fun style, inspirations and earliest tattoo related memory. Link in bio & stories 🖤 📸 @continuous_portrait_project #thingsandink #oneskinnyleg #tattooartist #cowboytattoo

We are absolutely obsessed with this by @lucybluetattoo ❤️💕❤️💕❤️ wow #thingsandink #womenwithtattoos #lucyblue

How cute are these tattooing froggos by @clarasugarcubestattoo? 🐸 #thingsandink #frogtattoo #tattoos #froggos #cutetattoo

Wow look at this absolutely exquisite back piece by @dollytattoos. We have been avid fans of her work for years. It is incredible to see her step outside of her usual bright pink / super kitschy tattoos into something new. We love seeing tattooists who can work in lots of different styles and colours ♥️ #thingsandink #womenwithtattoos #love #backpiecetattoo #dollytattoos

"I create a drawing in an engraving style based on Greek mythology, and then I transfer it not to wood or metal in order to make an impression, but to the skin of a person to keep it there forever. From my perspective this is synthesis of the arts which is timeless” @lescrowtattoo tells us all about her Gravure tattoos on th-ink #thingsandink #gravuretattoo #tattooartist #art #backtattoo

WOMEN DO NOT LIE ABOUT RAPE. When Nina was sexually assaulted more than a decade ago on a night out, she went straight to the police. They told her that she was drunk, they didn't believe her and said that no crime had been committed. She was let down. The case was dropped in less than a day. When the me too movement finally reached the tattoo world back in 2020, Nina felt she was able to speak out. She wrote about the details of that night on a blog post. Because Billy Hay - the man who assaulted her - was a tattooist and worked on women's bodies, she wanted to warn other women. She didn't want anyone else to go through what she had. Instead of owning up to what he did, Billy sued Nina for libel. He said she was lying. The case was taken all the way to the Royal Courts of Justice where we were there on the public benches to support Nina. In court, Billy claimed that he was a "nice guy" who was brought up well by his mother. And yet he consistently said that Nina was a liar. Today, Nina has won! We now know who was lying. The judge believed Nina. We believe Nina. The judge found that Billy had sexually assaulted her. And that Nina speaking out was in the public interest. SHE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH. Nina's defence was funded by @goodlawproject where we have taken this picture from. See their Instagram post for what this means for women who want to speak out. Today is a very good day for women. We are so proud of you @ohninac #tattoometoo #thingsandink #billyhay #womenwithtattoos

Truths

"Do not ever feel pressured or made to feel uncomfortable in a tattoo environment. The experience is as permanent as the tattoo, so don't settle for mega egos, creeps or dicks." Yeeeesss @dinkyink, we couldn't agree more. We absolutely loved reading @alicecsnape's chat with @dinkyink over @storiesandinkskincare. Sharing link in stories for the entire convo. It's a wild ride. #womenwithtattoos #kewpie #love #thingsandink #tattoos #tattoometoo #tattooshops