Tattoo Artist, Cover-Up Specialist & Creative Soul
A Life in Ink The Story Behind Starlight Tattoo
Hi, I’m Buzzy — tattooist, artist, and owner of Starlight Tattoo. I grew up surrounded by the hum of tattoo machines and the quiet focus of creativity. My mum, Monique, and her partner Steve were both tattooists, so the world of ink and skin was part of my everyday life.
Mum also organised the Frankfurt International Tattoo Convention for many years, which meant I got to meet incredible artists from all over the world. Many stayed with us, and I spent my time drawing, observing, and learning from each of them.
I’ve always felt that tattooing is more than just art — it’s a kind of alchemy. It transforms stories, memories, and intentions into something permanent and deeply personal. From an early age I was developing my own style, and I quickly learned that tattooing is a lifelong path. It’s always evolving, always teaching.
I’m so grateful to my mum for passing down her wisdom, especially when it comes to cover-ups and tattoo repairs — something I now consider a sacred part of the work. And to Steve, who had a true gift for the technical side and helped me perfect my setup.
Started Tattooing at 11 Still Going Strong (With Way Better Linework)
One memory that’s etched into my heart: when I was 11 years old, Mum handed me a tattoo machine and told me to go for it — right there on a client’s chest. He didn’t mind at all, and everyone was laughing. That day was the start of it all.
After finishing school, I started tattooing full-time — first in Germany, and from 1998 in Auckland at Monique's Euro Tattoo, Mum’s studio. In 2014, I opened Starlight Tattoo, now nestled in Muriwai, near Kumeu, surrounded by wild coast and forest. It's a peaceful place to create meaningful art.
If you're drawn to something meaningful, symbolic, healing, or uniquely your own, I’d love to bring it to life. To me, tattoos are more than skin deep — they're stories, soul markers, little bits of magic inked in time.
Come visit, tune in, and let’s create something with intention. BOOK HERE
And a fun little throwback: when I was 17, Body Art International Magazine published an article about me tattooing in Germany. They called me the youngest professional tattooist in the country at the time — and yes, they included the story about my first tattoo at age 11.
An older NZ newspaper write-up about Buzzy's mother, tattoo mentor and Queen of the Tats Monique.
Buzzy back in the year of 1996.
Monique back then in Germany featured in the Skin & Ink Magazine.
Looking Back Moving Forward
These old articles and memories are a reminder of where it all began — from my first tattoo at 11, to learning from my mum Monique, to shaping my own path in the world of ink. Every step has influenced the way I work today. I carry those roots forward into Starlight Tattoo, creating art that honours the past while speaking to the present moment.