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Katy McCabe of Boho Ink wins Influential Woman in Business Award in Tattoo Art & Creative Design 2026–2027

Celebrating delicate fine-line artistry, meaningful personal designs and the journey from a home studio to a thriving independent business.

Katy McCabe, the artist behind Boho Ink Tattoo Studio, has been named the recipient of the Influential Woman in Business Award in Tattoo Art & Creative Design 2026–2027 by Innervision Global. The recognition celebrates her delicate fine-line work, thoughtful approach to personal design and the independent business she has built around helping clients feel comfortable, understood and confident in their choices.

For Katy, the route to running her own studio was far from straightforward. After graduating with a BA in Fine Arts, she began a traditional apprenticeship in a high street tattoo shop. When that came to an end, she did not yet feel confident enough to open a business of her own. Instead, she moved into teaching and later the technology sector, where greater flexibility offered a different way of balancing work and family life.

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Tattooing became a possibility again following the pandemic. As more beauty and service businesses began operating from home, Katy noticed a growing acceptance of private home tattoo studios, an approach that had previously been viewed less favourably within the industry. Encouraged by a supportive conversation with her local council, she established a small studio at home in 2023.

Her first clients were friends and family. What began nervously as a hobby and a side business to help with the rising cost of living soon became something much more substantial.

By the following year, demand had grown beyond her expectations. Katy devoted herself to improving her fine-line technique, developing delicate florals, handwriting tattoos and memorial pieces. She was particularly drawn to designs that could be subtle in appearance while carrying considerable personal meaning.

Eventually, she faced a decision: continue fitting appointments around her existing career or commit to tattooing full-time. Choosing to back herself marked the beginning of Boho Ink as the business she had long imagined, bringing together her artistic interests, her own studio space and a clear idea of how she wanted clients to feel.

“The thing I love most is the meaning behind the work. A tattoo might look like a small, delicate piece of art, but for the person wearing it, it can represent a loved one, a memory, a milestone or a part of their identity. Being trusted to create something that carries that meaning is a real privilege.”

That understanding shapes the care Katy puts into each appointment. Whether working from a sentimental reference, a personal story or an initial idea, she aims to create a design that feels individual to the person wearing it.

Boho Ink Tattoo Studio - Influential Woman Digital Plaque

Fine-line floral work and memorial tattoos have become especially rewarding parts of her practice, allowing her to combine detailed drawing with a sensitive understanding of what a piece represents.

She places equal importance on the experience surrounding the tattoo. Katy recognises that many people can feel uncomfortable or intimidated when entering a traditional tattoo shop. Boho Ink’s private, appointment-only setting offers a calm space where clients have time to discuss their ideas, ask questions and feel listened to.

For her, trust, patience and understanding are essential to the business. A successful appointment means a client leaves pleased with the artwork and comfortable with the experience of having it created.

Behind that personal approach is a firm commitment to quality. Katy believes that marketing can only achieve so much if the work itself does not meet a high standard. She pays close attention to small details and has deliberately concentrated on developing a recognisable artistic style, rather than attempting to offer every kind of tattoo.

Specialising has helped her establish both a clear identity and a client experience that reflects her own values. It has also challenged some of the assumptions she once held about how a tattoo career should look. Building an appointment-only private studio and focusing on one style has proved a successful approach for her.

Katy is equally candid about the place business now holds in her life. She does not describe her experience as a succession of setbacks overcome through sheer determination. Instead, she values the flexibility she has gained to work around her son and make him a priority.

Having recently moved into a new home and established a larger studio space, she is enjoying the room to develop her work further. With appointments booked several months ahead, an occasional cancellation is something she can manage without panic. When asked whether she had ever considered giving up, her answer was simple: never.

Her advice to other women considering a similar path is practical. Be patient with the development of an individual style, question inherited expectations and allow room to build a business in a way that suits both the artist and the client.

She also believes in keeping moving. Waiting in an unhappy job for the perfect opportunity can mean missing the smaller steps that lead somewhere unexpected. A slightly better role, a modest risk or an unfamiliar experience may introduce someone influential or reveal a career that had never previously seemed possible. Her own journey through art, teaching, technology and back to tattooing has given her plenty of reason to trust that process.

Turning a side business into full-time work remains one of Katy’s proudest achievements. She has built Boho Ink around her artistic identity while developing a reputation for delicate tattooing and a space where clients’ stories are valued.

Recognition as Tattoo Artist of the Year 2026, followed by the Influential Woman in Business Award in Tattoo Art & Creative Design 2026–2027, has provided welcome opportunities to pause and appreciate that progress. Working independently often means concentrating on the next design, booking or business goal, leaving little time to reflect on what has already been achieved.

“Being presented with this award is incredibly meaningful to me because it recognises both the creative and business sides of what I’ve built. Tattooing is an art form, but running a successful tattoo business also involves strategy, organisation, communication and a huge amount of work behind the scenes.”

The award has reinforced Katy’s belief that changing direction can lead to a fulfilling career. She hopes to use the recognition to raise the profile of her work, develop Boho Ink at a pace that feels right and encourage other women to take their own creative ambitions seriously.

Her plans include continuing to refine her style, expand her portfolio and explore what she can achieve within fine-line tattooing and creative design. In the year ahead, she intends to attend more tattoo conventions and is considering guest appearances at studios around the country.

Teaching may also become part of her working life again. Drawing on her experience in education, Katy has been developing an apprenticeship pathway through Boho Ink. She wants to make creative opportunities more accessible and offer aspiring artists the guidance, encouragement and practical support that can help them build confidence and discover their own direction.

Two people have been especially influential in helping her find hers. Her husband, Charlie, has encouraged a willingness to try, take risks and learn independently. His readiness to teach himself unfamiliar skills has shown Katy the value of taking ownership of her development, using available resources and allowing herself the time and practice needed to improve.

Her father has provided a different but equally important kind of support. His encouragement, willingness to listen and steady expressions of pride have offered reassurance through the frustrations that come with learning and running a business.

As Boho Ink enters its next chapter, Katy wants its growth to preserve the qualities that first brought clients through the door: thoughtful design, delicate artistry and personal care. The achievement that matters most to her remains having built a sustainable business from something she loves, while creating work that holds lasting meaning for other people.

Facebook: Katy McCabe Tattoo Artist

Instagram: @boho.ink.studio

Website: getink.app/artists/bohoink