Hello! I’m Robin, also known as Bird Shoes

I’m based at Blank Collective in South East London, UK. My creative journey began early—growing up surrounded by art, I was inspired by my father, a sign writer who specialised in hand-painted typography and traditional pub signs across the South of England.

Although I didn’t have the smoothest start, failing my GCSEs and eventually dropping out of college where I studied Art & Design, I always found my way back to creativity. My late teens were spent experimenting with various jobs, but at 19, I managed to land my first graphic design role. Though I had no formal qualifications, I stayed in that position for several years, honing my skills while struggling to find other opportunities. Eventually, I got lucky a second time and moved to another design job, where I worked alongside well-known brands, refining my craft further.

But deep down, I had always dreamed of becoming a tattoo artist. So, in November 2019, I took the plunge and began an apprenticeship at a London studio. Since then, I’ve been living my dream, constantly growing and learning alongside an incredible group of talented artists and friends.