A former professional footballer has taken the plunge and opened his own tattoo studio in Stroud – turning a passion he discovered during his playing days.
Sean Rigg, who played for Forest Green, Newport, AFC Wimbledon, Port Vale, Oxford United and Bristol Rovers, first became interested in tattooing during his playing career after befriending an artist who was working just around the corner from Vale Park.
The former midfielder, whose professional career spanned more than a decade and included more than 400 league appearances and 52 goals, has now taken the plunge by opening a new tattoo studio in his hometown of Stroud – bringing together his passion for tattooing and creativity.
Rigg first got into tattooing while playing for Port Vale, when a friend who was tattooing him near the club’s ground offered to train him.
Now, years later, he has taken the leap to open his own studio Workhorse Tattoo, at the former Swan Inn in Union Street, creating a space where he hopes clients will feel relaxed, welcome and able to bring their own ideas to life.
“The time just felt right for me to take the plunge into opening my own studio,” he said.
“I had a vision in my head and I’m not getting any younger, so why not go for it!
“I first got into tattooing while I was playing for Port Vale. My friend who was tattooing me around the corner from the ground agreed to train me up, so I had something to fall back on after football.
“The first tattoo I did on someone else was some Māori tribal on my mentor’s brother!”
For the artist, having his own studio is about much more than simply having somewhere to work.
“It means a lot to have my own place because I can bring my own vision to life,” he said.
“I want to offer a welcoming, open space where people feel relaxed.”
His speciality is black and grey realism, although his work has recently started moving towards traditional Japanese tattooing.
“I mostly tattoo and enjoy black and grey realism, but recently I’ve been leaning into traditional Japanese,” he said.
“I’m pretty open to trying most styles.
“I have some clients giving me free rein and that’s great, but I prefer to be given at least a theme. Then I can work off that and make it work.”
And while tattoo trends inevitably influence what clients ask for, he says some of the most enjoyable work comes when he gets the chance to create something completely different.
“People do tend to follow trends, and that’s OK, but I do enjoy doing something more original,” he said.
“It’s always most fun tattooing something new for the first time.”
For anyone considering their first tattoo, the artist says nerves are completely understandable – but the reality is often less daunting than people expect.
“People getting their first tattoo are always nervous about how it’s going to feel or if it will hurt,” he said.
“Which is understandable because it’s the unknown. Then you usually start and they are relieved – it’s not all that bad.
“Some areas are worse than others though!”
Despite looking at other options, there was never much doubt that he wanted his studio to be in Stroud.
“I chose to stay in Stroud as it’s my home town,” he said.
“I did have a good look around but this place really stood out to me and it was exactly what I had in mind – somewhere with character that I could make my own.
“The local community is great and we are surrounded by some great businesses that always look out for each other.”
He is also joined at the studio by fellow tattooists Taia and Jim, who he describes as a key part of the new venture.
“I’m lucky enough to have Taia and Jim along with me,” he said.
“They are both great tattooists and passionate to grow and put out some great work.”
For the new studio, the ambition is simple – create a welcoming place in the heart of Stroud where artists can develop their work while clients feel comfortable enough to be themselves.
And for its owner, opening the doors represents the culmination of a journey that began while he was still pulling on a football shirt.
From a tattoo around the corner from Port Vale’s ground to running his own studio in his hometown, it seems taking the plunge has paid off.
