Eva Marie's a gun hand at floral-themed tattoos

Eva Marie Harkness tattoos are floral freehand in the style of Victorian tapestry. Photo/ Stuart Munro

Eva Marie Harkness says you're either the "arty type, or not".

She says she grew up in a creative art family - dad Roy was an artist, and mum Lynda painted and sketched.

But she had given up on art until she picked up a tattooing gun.

Ms Harkness is now in her own tattoo studio "Eva Marie" in Victoria Court, and has also found her niche style.

Her floral freehand looks like tapestry in Victorian floral-style, and she is still experimenting.

It is an industry where you have to be versatile, she says. And because there is no other tattooist with her floral style, a woman from Wellington tracked Ms Harkness down and came up to Wanganui for her tattoos.

"I enjoy doing all styles of tattoo work too not just floral."

Ms Harkness said the traditional tattooing style has a bold outline around the artwork, though the art of tattooing has changed a lot through the years.

"To be a good tattoo artist, or any artist for that matter, it is important to find a style and a point off difference, to be unique and forever critical about your work so you can keep developing. Tattoos don't have to be 'in the box' - let's get creative."

"Eva Marie", Victoria Court, private bookings via Facebook, open February 1, 10am-6pm; Tuesday-Friday, 10.30am-3pm Saturday