Nick Rose

artist

Mar 7

My name is Nick Rose, and I'm a tattoo artist based in Charleston, South Carolina. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, I developed a passion for art at a young age. Encouraged by my parents, l explored multiple mediums, excelling in drawing, painting, and sculpture. This love for creativity led me to pursue a BFA in Sculpture with a minor in Painting and Printmaking at VCU.

After graduation, I struggled to find a career path that allowed me to make art full-time. While working in a liquor store and doing freelance work, I was often asked to design tattoo art. At the time, tattooing was a mystery to me-there were no online resources or TV shows to pull back the curtain. A friend in the industry helped me land an apprenticeship in Stafford, Virginia, and from the moment I put needle to skin, I was hooked. Tattooing was unlike any other medium I had ever worked with, and I was drawn to its challenges, traditions, and the constant opportunity for growth.

At the same time, I was battling addiction. My drinking and drug use started in high school and escalated through college, becoming a daily struggle. Like many artists, I believed substances fueled creativity, but in reality, they were leading me down a destructive path. In 2013, I made the decision to get sober and started attending AA. Tattooing became my anchor-it gave me structure, purpose, and something to focus on when my mind tried to pull me back into old habits.

With one year of sobriety, I met the love of my life, Ashley. In 2016, we moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where we built our life together, got married, and welcomed our two amazing children, Kelley and Naomi. Looking back, I'm certain that if I hadn't gotten sober, l never would have met Ashley, and I'd likely still be trapped in my addictions.

Tattooing didn't just give me a career-it saved my life. It kept me grounded long enough to take a sober look at myself and start making good decisions, one day at a time. Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to create meaningful, lasting art while honoring the craft that helped me rebuild my life.

You can find me at Holy City Tattoo Company