Having a tattoo is no longer the sole preserve of bikers and teenagers. High-flying CEOs are just as likely to call in for a tattoo as any other customer. Just ask Tommy Murphy who works at the newly opened Tattoo Shop around the corner from Hamilton's business neighbourhood.

On the second floor of the Bermudiana Arcade, in Queen Street, and despite opening only 10 days ago the shop is quickly attracting customers seeking tattoos and piercings.

Mr. Murphy is a tattoo artist from New York but is well known on the Island, having worked here on and off for many years.

He splits his time equally between Bermuda and New York and believes the new shop is just what Bermuda has been looking for.

It is clean and spacious, it has a sterilisation room that includes an observation window so that waiting customers can watch and see the equipment being safely handled and properly sterilised.

"I've worked for a number of (tattoo) employers but this is far and away the way things should be done. Everything here is state-of-the-art. This is the way to do it in Bermuda where presentation is very important, right down to the chairs and footrests," said Mr. Murphy.

He praised owner Lynn Hamilton for working to make sure the new shop was fitted out with quality equipment, was clean and spacious and generated an air of reassurance for customers.

"This is the best way to do it. Lynn wanted this to be the best tattoo shop and it is the happiest place I've worked," said Mr. Murphy.

"The safety aspect is incredibly important and Lynn has done everything here. We run the shop by hospital standards and have a room for sterilising the equipment that is a viewing room that customers can look into.

"We keep the place clean and tidy and comfortable. I try to always play relaxing music something like Bob Marley or Sade that keeps customers heart rate down."

Also working at the shop is Lawrence Vias who specialises in piercings. Mr. Murphy said: "Bermuda has caught on the tattoo phase like New York was a few years ago. We see people from CEOs to bike kids getting tattoos."

For the business fraternity family crests or Bermuda-linked art such as moongates and longtails are popular. There is also a growing number of women having tattoos, such as customer Carlene Askia who was this week having a Bermudiana flower design put on her foot.

"Tattoos have been around since the dawn of time. It is like a primal wish to have a tattoo. I've been tattooing for 17 years and when I first started it was just bikers. When women started getting tattoos that was when it got general acceptance. I would say 45 percent of customers now are women," said Mr. Murphy.

When he had his first tattoos done his mother would force him to cover them up. Now if she sees someone with a tattoo at the supermarket she will strike up a conversation with them and proudly mention her son is a tattoo artist.

The Tattoo Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday.