Irene Fraenkl-Rietti. CV.
I am Irene Fraenkl-Rietti, proprietor of Tattooed Lady Body Art.
Born 13th April 1953, Oslo, Norway.
1972-3 Arts Foundation Course.
1974 Studied traditional weaving and tapestry with Else Marie Jakobsen, one of northern Europe's leading textile artists.
1975-80 Student at the West Norwegian Academy of Fine Art (Vestlandsakademiet) Bergen, Norway in the fields of painting and printmaking. At that time Vestlandsakademiet was reckoned the best and most radical Art Academy in Scandinavia. Included in this period was altogether 12 months spent at the internationally recognized Myren Graphic Art Workshop in South Norway. Whilst qualifications are not always easy to compare this five-year education would more or less be the same as an MA course in the UK.
Since finishing at the Academy, I have exhibited both as painter and printmaker in Scandinavia, Germany and the UK, and have paintings, drawings and prints in several private collections in these countries.
1985 Moved to England
1987 Had first tattoo
1989 Had first body piercing
1992 Began tattooing, largely self taught following an abortive "apprenticeship" with a "well known tattoo artist" in North West England, of which "least said soonest mended", except to say I learned the hard way that technical excellence and personal integrity are not necessarily found together in one man.
1993 Began Body Piercing. Travelling to London to learn the basics by having all (that is, at least one of each of) the piercings my anatomy and gender allow.
1994 Opened the first "Tattooed Lady Body Art" studio at Newton Heath, in Manchester.
2001 Relocated to the present Studio.

1991 to 2003 Besides my studio work took part in tattoo expos at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Wrexham (Wales), Rossendale Bike Show (Lancashire), and Hamburg (Germany) twice, the second time by invitation. I also took part in 'Skintech' in Manchester in both 2002 and 2003.Thanks Jorge. My work has appeared in several magazines, including an article I wrote for the now defunct "Flesh Canvas". I have appeared on television several times, once in a debate on fetishism and the S/M scene on "Granada Upfront" and more recently on Channel 4's "Treasures" series, most reacently on Granada's "On the edge"in 2003.
Acknowledgements:
My own tattooes are by (chronologically by the last time that they worked on me) Annie Aaron (then in Leamington Spa), Andy Jay (Rochester), the legendary Micky Sharpz (Birmingham), Louis Malloy (of Middleton, North West England, the well known tattoo artist to the well known), Steve at Micky Sharpz studio (Birmingham), Skull (Belfast), the at that time itinerant New Zealand artist "H", my former apprentices/assistants Janine Wylie and Kristian Etchells (wherever they now are, having left the nest to make their own way in the big wide World), Chris at Mikes Tattoo Studio (Carlisle), and where I can reach, Myself. Though some of these have become and remained friends and a few have become foes all have contributed in some way to how I view the world of tattooing/body art, as has Nick in London, who taught me piercing and who, along with Micky Sharpz did my earliest piercings.
Especial thanks to Micky Sharpz for encouragement over the years, and, although he has never tattooed me,thanks also for encouragement in his own rough and ready way to Rambo of Manchester.
Thanks also to Ronnie Starr of Hull for help in times of crisis & for excellent machines you are a real gentleman.
For photographic work on this website I would like to thank (alphabetically) the professional photographers Steve Jary, Murray Ludwig and Ken Rolands. I have also taken some of the gallery photos myself.
For the website itself thanks to Steven Jaques!(Suncorp Media Ltd)