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Garry's Skin Grafix—Tattoo Artists
Tattoos are one of the oldest forms of art, dating
back 5,000 years. Here in Greenville, we have some of
the best tattoo artists in the business. At Garry’s Skin
Grafix on South Memorial Drive, Caroline Hedgepeth and
Bill Dermody practice their art every day on a wide
range of clients, including bikers, veterans, marines,
professionals, and of course, the ever excited college
students.
Garry’s Skin Grafix has been open since 1990 and its
founder, Garry Nobles, has been tattooing since 1981.
Garry trained both Caroline and Bill, and all three
artists focus on providing their customers with
“artistic tattoos, whether it is a custom designed
piece, freehand artwork, or traditional wall flash.”
Caroline Hedgepeth is originally from Wilson and this
past May marked her 12th year in the tattoo industry.
She got her first tattoo when she was a senior in high
school, before she went to ECU to study in the School of
Art and Design. After two and a half years drawing and
painting, she took a semester off, and it was while she
was getting a tattoo from Garry that she asked him to
teach her. “He said he would, but I didn’t think of it
as a career. I kinda fell into it,” she said. Once
Caroline started her training; however, she said she
found what she wanted to do. “This is what I was meant
to do. I love it.”
Caroline’s favorite tattoos are realism and portrait
work. “I do a lot of portraits and images from
photographs and movies,” she said. One of her clients
has both legs, up to her thighs with no skin showing, of
images from the movies Labyrinth and Legend. Caroline
started participating in conventions about five years
ago and has won dozens of awards for her work. She’s
traveled to Virginia, Georgia, Florida and California to
participate in conventions and enter her work for
recognition. Her trophies line the shelves in her work
space and the walls are covered in certificates and
framed pictures of her art, both painted and tattooed.
Caroline expressed her gratitude to Garry for not only
teaching her how to tattoo, but for setting her up with
a job in one of his studios. “I love Garry to death,”
she said. “I’m so grateful to him and I can’t imagine
what my life would be like if I didn’t work here.”
Bill Dermody is originally from Utah and he came to ECU
to get his Masters Degree from the School of Art and
Design. After graduation, Bill started teaching in the
Art department at ECU, and he’s been there ever since.
Bill got his first tattoo when he was 22, because he
said, “it was illegal to get them in Utah at the time.”
When Bill met Garry, he found a way to incorporate his
artistic training and skills into a different medium. “I
did my first tattoo after six months of training and I
liked it,” he said.
Bill has been tattooing at Garry’s Skin Grafix for 6
years and teaching at ECU going on 10 years. He said
many of his students come in to get tattooed by him and
“two of my former students work with us at the downtown
studio.” Bill said he is really content with his life
right now. “I’m happy, moderately healthy, have two jobs
I love doing, and wonderful friends. What else can I ask
for?”
Even though Caroline Hedgepeth and Bill Dermody don’t
paint on canvas much anymore, their artwork can be seen
all around the city. So if you’re in the mood for some
permanent ink, give Caroline or Bill a call at (252)
756-0600, or stop by 3398 South Memorial Drive. They’re
open Monday through Thursday 1-9pm, Friday 1-10pm and
Saturday 12-10pm. Garry’s also has studios downtown
Greenville on Evans Street, in Rocky Mount, and
Goldsboro. Check out www.skingrafix.com for more details
and pictures of the artists’ work.
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