Stefan Sinclair of Two Hands Tattoo

Stefan Sinclair by Tom Roberton

Stefan Sinclair just bought a boat. Not any boat mind you – a burnt-orange and white 1974 Glastron GT150 – the same speedboat that appeared on the best James Bond film ever made, Live and Let Die. Sure it’s useful for fishing and cruising the harbour, but the fact it’s also beautiful is testament to Stefan’s taste.

It’s this kind of broad thirst for the aesthetically pleasing that makes his tattoo studio stand out from the rest. Opened in 2005 at the top of Auckland’s Symonds Street, Two Hands Tattoo recently relocated to Ponsonby Road, a purposeful shift that aims to show tattooing is for everyone, not just occasionally visible sub groups like musicians and hairdressers.

“The shop is really just a reflection of what I’m into. Like I’m psyched on things like fashion rather than just straight up illustration, and lots of fine arts and stuff that I’m into. I guess I want to create a studio that’s comfortable for anyone to go to and not so stuck in the ghetto that is the tattoo culture.”

Visit his studio, an immaculate and airy loft above the Ponsonby fish n’ chip shop, and you will be greeted by old sailing memorabilia, vintage tattoo photos and three rooms stuffed with talented tattooists and inspiration for Stefan’s latest interests – which at the moment include the lithograph artist Albrecht Durer and regalia “which is medals and badges and stuff which denote rank or achievement so I’ve been working heaps on designs around those, I like the idea of turning them into tattoos.”

And when he’s not tattooing, the 32-year-old likes a good night out – his perfect idea of which includes a gallery opening, followed by a house party, a bar visit and maybe finished at a club.

“Just something with a whole bunch of different things in one night.”

Favourite STOLEN Rum cocktail: STOLEN Ginger.

www.twohandstattoo.com