SME News Southern Enterprise Awards 2024/ 30 Tattoo Studio of the Year 2024 - Essex Knowing that a tattoo is more than just a tattoo, Mike Philp established CoCreate, a brand that today consists of two private studios in Essex, back in 2018. With a background in graphic design, Mike, who originally hails from Birmingham, honed his craft by studying the innate collaboration that exists between mathematics and art, something that is reflected in his specialty area of geometric pattern designs. Having been tattooing for 15 years this year, Mike leads the team here with the same emphasis on collaboration that underpins his masterful designs. With two private Essex-based tattoo studios to its name, one in the heart of Chelmsford and the other around 20 miles away in Castle Hedingham, CoCreate has quickly established itself as the county’s premier tattoo brand. Along with his team, which consists of Frances McCarthy-Jones, Lauren Gaskell, and Jess Knox, Mike Philp upholds CoCreate’s leading reputation by delivering a personalised service, something made possible by the appointment-only nature of these two excellent studio locations. Privacy not only helps its clients to feel more relaxed, but it also means they get the full attention they deserve to have their chosen designs brought to life by one of CoCreate’s immensely talented artists. Mike tells us that it has always been his goal to offer an unparalleled level of service and a deeply personal experience for all who enter his doors, and that’s exactly what his award-winning brand has been doing now for more than seven years – pushing the limits of great customer service in the regional tattooing scene. Beyond creating the perfect client experience, it goes without saying that the team here are equally dedicated to providing a standard of work that is of the highest quality this industry has to offer. From black and grey tattoos to fine-line designs, ultra-realistic illustrations, classic tattoo art, and, of course, Mike’s signature ‘geo-realism’, every tattoo completed in a CoCreate studio is a masterpiece in its own right – unequivocally great and an accurate reflection of the unique style and personality of the client who proudly sports it. The key to CoCreate’s success is in its name. Working as a team has proven integral to the unique atmosphere that exists here, one where clients feel comfortable and have their every need take care of. This was certainly the case for Jack Roe, who held off getting his first tattoo until he found the right artist for him. When he stumbled across Mike’s Instagram page, he knew he had struck gold. Over more than 40 hours spread across months, Jack got a sleeve tattoo, as well as an experience, which exceeded his wildest expectations. A similarly excellent experience was had by Andrew Sewell, who had his first tattoo done by Mike more than four years ago, and today has two full sleeves comprised of various geometric patterns and other such meticulous designs all done by him. Like many of CoCreate’s clients, Andrew refuses to go anywhere else, and wholeheartedly recommends anyone interested in getting a piece done to seek out Mike. After all, when something is on your body forever, it pays to go to a professional who is a master of their craft. Having focused a great deal on Mike’s work, it would be remiss not to mention the stellar designs of Frances (Fran), Lauren, and Jess. For example, Fran’s specialties are nature-themed tattoos, as well as patten work and ornamental designs that serve as excellent individual pieces or standout elements of a larger project. With a background in games art animation, Lauren instead favours Japanese art and is renowned for blending a number of style and crafting exquisite designs that pay homage to Japanese motifs. This brings us to Jess, who joined CoCreate this year, right around the time that these studios began to open every day of the week. Having been tattooing for almost as long as Mike, Jess is today a master across a range of diverse styles, from dark and gothic tattoos to those with bright and vibrant colours. Mike hopes that Jess’ joining of this team will mark the first of many, as expanding to create a thriving CoCreate community is the main priority of the brand as we move into 2025 and beyond. As the rightful winner of Tattoo Studio of the Year 2024 - Essex, CoCreate is continuing to push the boundaries and develop, and we wish Mike and his team all the best as they continue to do so, pleasing their clients to no end in the process. Contact: Mike Philp Company: CoCreate Web Address: https://www.cocreateart.com/
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