Amber Thorpe

I grew up in Niagara Falls, Ontario where I studied Fine Arts at Stamford Collegiate. Some of the classes included were sculpting, ceramics, painting (acrylics), mobiles, printmaking, and building/painting stage sets for productions.

I started my career in 1998 at Way Cool Tattoos under Harley Charlie (RIP<3) and Crazy Ace (RIP). I learned all there is to know about cleaning, scrubbing, sterilization and how a tattoo studio functions professionally. After about six months of cleaning and drawing, I finally got to do my first piercing. About a year later, I received an opportunity to open a shop in Medicine Hat, Alberta called Extreme Tattoos with Charlie. I made the journey west and began my tattoo apprenticeship under him. After three years of learning, I decided to venture out on my own. I moved to Calgary and found myself at the Arthouse Inc. where I was for two and a half years. To further my education, I have taken classes from predominant tattoo artists (such as Deano Cook and Mike Demassi). I have also attended many conventions and been tattooed by artists I look up to. I taught a drawing class called The Art of Tattooing at the Alberta College of Art and Design for two years. I opened Adept Tattoos in May of 2006. Two hours after I opened the door, a gentleman came in for a tattoo. I asked him what he wanted and he said the Alexander Keith’s deer. So that was the first tattoo I did in Halifax. Since then I started The Maritime Tattoo Festival. The festival has kept me on my toes and hanging out with some of the best artists to date. I try to keep a hungry outlook on tattoos and my art. I have won numerous awards and am blood borne pathogen certified. In my spare time I like to cuddle with my fur babies, play sports, competitive billiards, ride my motorcycle and interior/landscaping design. Recently, Amber opened Niagara Boat Experiences and now works as a certified First Mate, guiding tours up the Niagara River. Amber is currently tattooing at 1538 Niagara Stone Rd in Niagara Falls, ON.