Chat with Andy Alvis, artist and tattooist   |26 July 2022

‘All art forms and all artists should receive the same opportunities to develop and flourish’

Little known nationally, seasoned artist and tattooist Andy Alvis has over the years created a name for himself, built up his clientele and is still a sought after tattooist and artist for his remarkable work even though he is yet to be recognised nationally.

A former art teacher, Andy Alvis from  Beau Vallon has been doing his own business for the past five years – a combination of tattoo arts as well as different types of paintings including murals under the name Andy Tatts.

He has set up his own small art studio at his home to carry out his work, ensuring that he follows all related norms and regulations.

Meeting up with him recently Andy was eager to share his experience and samples of his work which include acrylic designs on boats, murals, portraits and he also does a large variety of  tattoos among others.

After spending 14 years imparting his knowledge to pupils of both primary and secondary schools around the country, Andy decided to do something new in his life. It has been six years since he left the teaching profession.

“It does not mean that I had stopped enjoying teaching but I just felt stuck and not able to do what I wanted. I felt I needed to move on in life and I was feeling somewhat disappointed as what I wanted to do as a teacher I could not so I decided I wanted a fresh start,” Andy said.

“Now I feel more at ease and have more time to explore the arts I love and to have the space to develop and flourish,” Andy said.

An experienced tattoo artist and painter, Andy said he does not regret the decision he made 14 years ago. But even though he has gradually created a name for himself with an increasing number of clients, Andy believes that not all artists are being offered the same opportunity by the authorities concerned to develop their art and grow their business.

“I feel really disappointed at times because as an artist I have the feeling that I have been cast aside and my work is not valorised. I recall when I was a teacher I always took part in different art competitions and I always received a prize or a mention of some sort but since I left the education field, even though I continue to be active, my work has never received any recognition. There are so many artists in Seychelles but I have the feeling that it is always the same ones who are invited to take part in both national and international events,” Andy remarked.    

“As artists we all want our work to be recognised and for people to know us both nationally and abroad where  possible but I feel that only a few and often the same artists are getting all the opportunities to take part in different events and this for me is something which is unfair,” Andy said.

On his own and through his own means Andy said he took part in two tattoo art conventions held in London before Covid-19 and it was a great opportunity for him to learn a lot and broaden his horizon in this kind of art.

“People there were really impressed by my work and I was even offered a job there,” Andy said.

He said all artists should receive the same opportunities and organisers of artistic events should ensure that calls for artists to participate in different events reach all artists through different media but not only a selected few.

Another thing that Andy says he deplores is the fact that there are several instances where foreigners have been favoured over local Seychellois artists.

“This is not encouraging at all as I believe local artists should be offered these opportunities and organisations, bodies in place to protect the interests of local artists should ensure that they do so effectively,” Andy remarked.

While he is yet to organise his own exhibition, Andy said he has once helped a friend to set up his exhibition.

Andy said at present he is not painting much on canvas but he is rather focusing on crafting tattoos on different clients as well as doing mural paintings both large and small depending on whatever the clients want.

He said so far he has painted murals mostly of cartoons and fairytale characters and scenes as well as environmental features and wildlife at several daycares, schools, guest houses and other facilities respectively.

He has his Facebook page where he interacts with his clients and attracts prospective clients.

“We discuss a lot of things via social media before we agree on the final details of the work. I just take enough work that I can complete in a certain time frame and avoid having backlogs,” Andy said.

Andy’s greatest wish is for artists and their art to be given more value, recognition and appreciation at all levels.

The accompanying photos show samples of Andy’s works.

Marie-Anne Lepathy