Derek Lewis - Tattoo Artist

As a child, Derek's artistic ability led him to experiment with various types of art including comic book characters, pin-up girls, Japanese style water colour and airbrushing on canvas. He developed a keen interest in renaissance style art and also followed Tibetan and Indian influenced art.

Derek was introduced to tattooing at a young age, he got his first tattoo at 14. Although this was probably not a good idea, it cemented his drive to pursue tattooing as a way to create living, breathing pieces of art. He started to tattoo at the age of 16, and eventually was lucky enough to start working with Gary Chynne of Studio One. It was here he learned the trade and discovered new styles of both art and tattooing.

During the years, Derek moved between Barrie and Toronto running and working in different studios such as Yonge Street Tattoos, Waycool Tattoos and Exotix. He was able to work along side artists such as Chris David, Chris Hall, Anthony Orsatti, Andrew Warren and David Glantz.

In recent years the tattoo industry has evolved, people are no longer satisfied with choices on the wall, they want something custom. Derek's years of experience have given him the expertise and vision to take an idea from it's beginnings into a beautiful designs on the surface of a body. With this knowledge Derek set out on his own and started Hartless Tattoos. The studio is a custom design studio for those looking to have original, living, breathing works of art, tattooed by an experienced artist.