ARCANA TATTOO
CURRENT ARTISTS
Bonnie
Co-owner
@blvckbelle
Laylita (Bonnie) is a tattoo artist of 13 years, specialising in ornamental, blackwork, black and grey realism, sacred geometry, floral, and botanical work. Her practice is deeply influenced by her own journey of healing after surviving severe injuries in the Christchurch earthquake.
With a quiet spiritual presence and a background in esoteric skin studies, Laylita approaches tattooing as a form of empowerment and transformation. She is especially passionate about covering scars in a tasteful and meaningful way, helping clients reconnect with their bodies through beauty, intention, and care.
Jak
Co-owner
@jaklaw_tattoos_etc
Jak is a senior tattoo artist and co-owner of Arcana. With 20 years experience in the industry, Jak is highly versatile and is competent in a wide range of styles.
She has a great eye for placement and designs that compliment the natural shape and flow of the body. She is known for her (sometimes brutally) honest approach, and clients appreciate her open, friendly attitude along with the clear guidance she gives throughout the entire process —although punctuality is definitely NOT one of her skills so don't expect her to be on time!
Jak is particularly sought after for her skillset in cover-ups and reworking old tattoos. With a unique ability to visualize new possibilities, Jak takes old ink and transforms it into something fresh and beautiful, often achieving results clients never thought possible.
Her expertise ranges from simple little meaningful tattoos to large-scale, full-colour and black and grey pieces. she loves anything flora/fauna themed, as well as skulls skulls skulls!
When she’s not tattooing, Jak channels her creativity into woodworking, making unique pieces out of primarily recycled timber. if not at the studio or in her workshop, shes probably lost in her indoor jungle again. dont worry, she always turns up.. eventually! Have a cuppa, relax, she'll be there soon!
Emma
@emma_rox
Emma is a tattoo artist with 20+ years of industry experience, known for her versatile skillset and a deep passion for custom work. While she loves working in most styles, her specialties sway towards vibrant colour cartoon/comic tattoos, pop culture-inspired designs, and detailed black and grey realism. She works hard to explore different concepts and custom ideas, making sure each design is thoughtfully developed and truly personal.
For Emma, tattooing is more than just art—it’s also about building a safe and welcoming space, making connections, and collaborating with clients to create designs that reflect who they are.
Chez
@mkeltattoo
With a background in fine art, Chez is both a practicing visual artist and a tattooer with over four years of experience.
Chez is known for her finely detailed, mostly black and grey work, often inspired by nature, animals and portraiture. She works across styles—blending illustrative, fine line, realism, traditional, stipple/dotwork and fantasy influences with a touch of the whimsical—and enjoys creating everything from tiny, intricate pieces to bold, large-scale work.
Dedicated to collaboration and connection, Chez approaches each tattoo with care and intention, ensuring every piece reflects the unique story and vision of her clients.
Beksi
@beski_tattoos
Specialising in fine line, dotwork, and bold traditional. With 10+ years of experience, Beksi’s work balances clean precision with artistic flair. Her portfolio spans delicate fine line pieces, intricate dotwork, and bold, timeless traditional tattoos—crafted with care and designed to last.
When she’s not tattooing, you’ll find Beksi lifting heavy things for fun, dog walking on Wednesdays, riding horses like it’s the Wild West, or absolutely smashing people in Scrabble Go. Also known for deep-diving into modern wisdom podcasts (shoutout to Chris Williamson). So chances are, you’ll walk away from your session with not only a fresh tattoo but also some fun new facts —or at the very least, an outstanding book recommendation.
A master of vibe-matching, Beksi is equally happy to chat your ear off or keep things zen and silent—think Uber Comfort, but way cooler and a lot less moving. So whether it’s your first tattoo or your fiftieth, we promise you that you’re in good hands. Beksi is here and happy to help!
Lani
@lani.tattoo
Lani is a highly skilled tattoo artist specializing in dotwork and vegan tattooing methods, esteemed for their incredible attention to detail and unique designs in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Clients often highlight Lani's welcoming and friendly demeanor, making each tattoo session a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Alongside their amicable nature, Lani's commitment to maintaining a pristine and hygienic studio space ensures a professional and safe environment for all.
