Exploring the Art of Ink: A Q and A with Tattooist Ned Burwell on Canadian Tattoo History
- milena fusco
- 2 days ago
- 11 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
In Canada, the tattoo scene has a diverse history that mirrors the nation’s multicultural landscape. Much like tattoo cultures around the globe, the Canadian tattoo scene is full of personal identity associated with the tattooers that help to define it.
To explore this topic, we spoke with Ned Burwell, a well-known tattoo artist and author currently writing a book about Canadian tattooing history. In this Q&A, we unpack his insights, experiences, and the compelling stories behind the ink.
Early beginnings
My journey as a tattoo artist started in 1993, I was seventeen years old at the time. My desire and enthusiasm for the art of tattooing far out weighted my fears and the obstacles that lay ahead of me.
My progression was slow and arduous however there always seemed to be a narrow path for me to travel. I learned tattooing from several different tattooists however the tattooist I accredit for the core of what I know is Mack Bregg. Mack mentored me during my many visits to his home and shop located in Kingston Ontario.
Mack not only taught me the mechanics of tattooing he also gave me some crucial instructions on how to live life. I have worked in many styles over the years ranging from small tattoos to full body murals. I feel most at ease doing large-scale tattoos in the black and grey medium.
The subject matter I most enjoy tattooing is wildlife and spiritually motivated themes however, I am here to serve my clients and meet their individual needs.
I started painting in 1995. I work with acrylic on Masonite predominantly in the monochromatic style. I most enjoy painting portraits however I'm very versatile and able to paint just about any subject matter. Painting has always been an outlet for me to express my inner artistic cravings.
Along with tattooing and painting I also enjoy writing. I began writing poems and inspirational articles in 1998. My writing served as an outlet for me to express some of the changes that was taking place deep within my soul.
Being an artist is an honour and privilege and has taught me many things over the years. My artistry has been an amazing experience in my life that is why I would like to share it with you.
It is my hope that it may give you an experience that you will wish to remember or want to share with your friends and family.
Journey into Tattooing
Q: How old were you when you got your first tattoo? Where did you get tattooed and who did it?
A: Growing up, my parents were bikers, which exposed me to tattoos at a young age. My father and many of his friends were tattooed. In addition to seeing tattoos on my parents' friends, as a young boy, I would read my dad's biker magazines. So, tattoos were always in my peripheral and were a natural byproduct of my parents’ vicarious lifestyle. As far back as I can remember, I have been besotted with anything to do with tattoos.
When I was 10 years old, a friend gave me a copy of a tattoo magazine. Holding that magazine was a tipping point of sorts. My infatuation with wanting a tattoo pressed into my ingenuity just enough to figure out how to accomplish this endeavour myself. So, to answer your question, I was 10 years old when I received my first tattoo, and I did it myself. It wasn’t until I turned 15 that I had my first professional tattoo by Joe Kennedy, who worked out of his home in Beachville, Ontario.
Early beginnings
Q: Did you have an apprenticeship? How did you get started? If so, by whom and where? How long was it?
A: I never had a formal apprenticeship. However, I had several mentors along the way. I dabbled with home-made tattooing from the age of 10 until I was 17. While attending a house party with my parents, I overheard one of my dad’s friends saying that he wanted to get a Scooby Doo tattoo. With pride and confidence, I let him know that I could do it for him. So, I went home and retrieved my tattoo kit, which contained a single needle, wrapped in thread and some Indian Ink. My parents looked on as I tattooed Scooby onto their friend. Once I had completed the job, my dad pulled me aside and said that we should look into getting me a professional setup. Not long after that evening, we contacted Joe Kennedy and found out where he was buying his supplies. Wayne Wilton of Panther Products in Dutton, Ontario, sold me my first starter kit. It was a day that I will never forget. I remember driving home sandwiched between my parents in the front seat of my dad's pickup truck. On my lap was a box that contained all my dreams. The supplies in that box held promise of a great future ahead and would later provide some of my greatest memories and adventures.
The first person to help me and give me some pointers was Daniel Desjardins from Dragon's Den Tattoos. He was a self-taught artist from Woodstock, Ontario, who tattooed from 1972 to 2024. Next, Griffin Surette, another self-taught artist, helped me a bit. Then, after attending the Royal City Tattoo Expo in Guelph, Ontario, put on by Paul Vicary, I met John Markward, who owned Fine Line Tattoo on Kingston Road in Toronto. I learned a few more things from John, enough to get me pointed in the right direction.
However, my biggest mentor was Mack Bregg. I had met Mack at the Guelph Convention, and unbeknownst to me, my heart and enthusiasm had caught his attention over the weekend. Mike Austin helped solidify my in with Mack. While I was getting tattooed at Mike’s shop one day, I must have said all the right things, because at the end of our session, he called Mack and asked him if he was willing to build some machines for me. Mack remembered me from the Guelph show, so he immediately agreed to have me come to his home to build me a set of machines, on the promise that I would get a good power supply from Dave Long and that I would use Micky Sharpz and National Tattoo Supply for my pigments and ink. He wasn't willing to make me machines if I didn’t have good supplies to use with them. Mack and Mike vouched for me to get customer numbers from National and Micky Sharpz.
Back in the early '90s, the tattoo suppliers had a much stricter vetting system in place. You needed to be sponsored by reputable tattooists to have the privilege to buy their supplies. (And we didn’t call them “Gatekeepers,” we respected how they looked after tattooing!)
The Cultural Significance of Tattoos
Q: Has writing always been something you loved? Have you written other books?
A: I started writing in my early 20s. At the time, I was experiencing a growing dichotomy within me. I was an angry mother fucker who didn’t possess an ounce of emotional intelligence. However, while I was tattooing, my problems disappeared, and I felt at peace, but these peaceful moments were fleeting at best. It would be an understatement to say that I was a fucking mess emotionally and mentally. Writing became an outlet for me to make sense of my private inner world that I wasn’t willing to share with friends and family.
I always knew I was going to write books, but I didn’t know how or when that would happen. In 2008, I felt called to write a book about the history of tattooing in Canada. The idea came without any preexisting thoughts on the topic. In fact, at the time, I was contemplating writing a book on spirituality. So, when the idea came up that I write a book about tattooing, my mind initially rejected it. However, I reasoned that if I couldn’t follow my own intuition, would I really be qualified to write anything about spirituality? As a test, I decided to call the biggest names in tattooing. I left messages with several tattooists that I didn’t think would ever get back to me. Despite my apprehension, Paul Jeffries was the first person to return my call.
While on the phone with Paul that day, he asked me when I would be in Calgary. I looked at the calendar in my room and picked one month from the day I was on. That was the start of the set of books that I am currently working on.
To date, I have written 6 books, 5 of which are non-fiction, and my latest book is a work of fiction based on actual events from a meditation retreat I attended in Mexico with the Ishaya Monks.
The Process of Writing a Book
Q: What piqued your interest in writing a book on the history of Canadian tattooing?
A: Although I initially rejected the idea of writing about tattooing, it’s certainly a topic that is close to my heart. First and foremost, by nature, I’m a curious person. I am rarely satisfied with what I think I know. I don’t think you can effectively write about any topic if curiosity doesn’t run through your veins. To be curious, you are called to suspend what you know in pursuit of learning more. And I think that’s a fundamental skill if you are going to write about history.
Early in my career, I spent a great deal of time with Mack Bregg. His stories were riddled with history and tattoo magic. Listening to Mack speak about the early days of tattooing in Canada and in Europe really stuck with me. I often found myself thinking about the old timers, wishing I were one of the early pioneers of tattooing. Not long after I became friends with Mack Bregg and Mike Austin, they introduced me to Jerry Swallow. I followed their lead and began to write letters back and forth with Jerry. Connecting with Jerry and reading about his time with Charlie Snow and the other old timers he worked with further sparked my interest in tattoo history.
By knowing more about the people who came before me, I felt a greater sense of connection with tattooing. In my diluted and insecure mind, I felt like I was an imposter and that I didn’t belong in this special elite group. I don’t think I’m alone in this experience either! Once during an interview, the guy on the other end of the phone said he just hoped to one day earn a seat at the table. His statement caused me to pause. I put the interview on hold for a minute to share my two cents with him. I said to him, “You are the mother fucking table!” Next, I asked him, “You do tattoos, right?” he replied, “Yes.” Well then, you don’t need to earn your seat; you are the table. We all make up the table; some of us are screws and brackets, while others are legs that hold the table upright. However, we all play our part, and the sum of the many parts makes up the whole of the Canadian electric tattoo scene.
I feel that we are all important and that the Canadian Tattoo Scene is more than a handful of key players. This is why I want to capture the history of tattooists from the past to the present in the books I’m working on. Metaphorically, I see tattooing as a box, and every day I turn it over, looking at all its sides and different angles. I plague my mind with the question, “What is tattooing?” Tattooing is like a box; it’s a container, but what I hope to discover is what’s inside this incredible container. I hope that by the end of this project, I will have a better understanding and a thousand more questions that will continue to pique my curiosity. If you slide back into your seat and ponder, what is tattooing, and why do we get them? The answers to these questions run deep and will vary widely.
Tattooing is incredibly special and still contains just as much magic as it’s ever had. I often hear many complaints about where tattooing has arrived in 2025. Many of those complaints hold validity, and I frequently find myself relating to the insights of other tattooists. I agree that the commercialization of tattooing has brought a few unwelcomed fingers up all of our asses and has attracted leeches that only have interests in taking what they can from our craft. But answer this question: What has ever stayed the same? History consistently reveals one thing: Life is change, and to resist change is a form of resisting life. Tattooing has never stayed the same and will continue to change, and the changes that take place will appear great or terrible, depending on who is weighing and measuring the situation.
I also feel that, for whatever reason, I’m the guy to document our history. This book project gives me a sense of purpose, and what really sweetens the deal is that, with each step, I get to celebrate my peers, build community, and receive one fuck of an education along the way. However, I’ve stated many times during my interviews, “I’m just another spoke in the wheel of this project.” It’s not my book project, it’s a collaborative project that I’m honoured to be part of.
The Role of Technology in Tattooing
Q: Have you had some memorable moments during your interviews? Have you met some interesting people?
A: Too many to mention! I think everyone is cool, but sometimes it’s more evident in certain people you meet. Meeting the old timers for the first time are some of my most prized memories. Sitting down to speak with Trevor Hodge, Beachcomber Bill, Jerry Swallow, Smokey Nightengale, Sailor Fred, Dave Shore, Bryan Zuk, Gene Dishman, Al Newcombe, Joe Prokopowicz, Tony D’Anessa, Ace Daniels… and so many more, has helped me build a connection with the history of tattooing in Canada.
One of my prized experiences was having Kurt Wiscombe interview me. I’ve always held Kurt in the highest regard. I admire his enthusiasm and curiosity for tattooing. He also has a great sense of humour that makes spending time with him loads of fun.
One of my favourite anecdotes is something Lannie Glover once said to me during my first interview with him. His greatest pet peeve is “A 40-minute conversation on a 20-minute draw time for a 5-minute tattoo.”
Another one of my most memorable moments was having the honour of interviewing The Dutchman, and then sitting down this summer to record another 5 hours of conversation with John about his personal career and life. If I drift into my memories, I can get lost down the rabbit hole. I’ve captured so many fond memories and have met all my heroes and sheroes in tattooing. I have been privileged enough to spend time with many of the living legends of tattooing as well. It’s so cool that the project has the support of so many! Mike Austin has been a huge supporter of the project since day one. I also owe a great deal of thanks to Keith and Sara Winterbottom, Bob Paulin, Dan Allaston, Ace Daniels, Chuck Eldridge, The Dutchman, Clement Demers Jr., Thomas Lockheart, Christina Christie, Eikon Device, Ryan Halter, and all the people who have shared their time to do interviews with me.
The Future of Tattooing in Canada
Q: What was your last tattoo? Do you still get tattooed?
A: I had a tattoo session on my Shiva tattoo last Monday. (@sparrow_hands_art) Nic Capretta from Grey Harbour Tattoo is doing a blast over on my entire right arm.
The Importance of Community
Q: Where will you be travelling to next for your interviews?
A: I have some big plans in mind; however, I’m still contemplating all the moving parts. I have decided to launch the books, one at a time. Given all the support and sponsors who have stepped up to help the project along, I feel I need to put the first book out as soon as possible.
Personal Reflections on Tattooing
Q: Other than tattooing, is there any other type of art you like to do? Do you have merchandise for sale and where can we purchase it?
A: love painting in acrylics, and I have also grown fond of digital painting as well. Painting and writing are my main outlets outside of tattooing. Here is a link to my author page on Amazon.
The Impact of Tattoos on Identity
Q: What are your interests outside of tattooing?
A: Between tattooing full-time and working on the books, I have very little time for other activities. Spending time with my incredible wife takes up whatever time is left over. We both like to hike and jog in the mornings, and we have made a conscious effort to jump in the car and grab a coffee in the evenings.
The Intersection of Art and Tattooing
Q: How can people get in touch with you and where can the follow you?
A: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ned.Burwell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nedburwell/
Tattoo History Book Website: www.tattoohistorybook.com
Endless Boundaries Website: www.endlessboundaries.ca
