Braden McMahon

I’m inspired by traditional tattooing and flash, and I love taking inspiration from old reference books as well.
Turning illustrations into traditional tattoo flash and painting them by hand with watercolour, is something I really love to do.
My style is traditional street shop tattooing.
I love the challenge of whatever idea comes through the door, and I also love tattooing from our extensive collection of NZ and traditional American flash.
My partner and I went travelling around the US and Europe. We ended up settling in Germany, where I managed to secure an apprenticeship with fellow New Zealander, Chris Leigh, at Mana Tattoo Studio in Bad Bramstedt.
Two years down the track we were living back in Aotearoa.
I popped in to ask Merv for a job, and nine years later I’m still here doing what I love! I’ve tattooed in Hamburg, London, Sydney, Melbourne and various places here in New Zealand.
Before getting into tattooing, I was a Bridge and Wharf Carpenter and a stainless-steel fabricator, and I love a bit of DIY. I play drums in a death metal band, I LOVE country music and reading old westerns.
ATS is my home and my life. My wife and I have owned Auckland Tattoo Studio for 5 years, and I live in the upstairs flat with her and our son.