Professionals Tamborine Mountain 
Studio Mink might not have been on Tamborine Mountain very long, but Olivia Mills is already making waves. With a storied career in tattooing and even some celebrity clients, since October 2022 she’s been in residence in her hybrid gallery and tattoo studio, a unique artistic endeavour for the mountain, and she’s eager to share her vision with us today.
by Kyle Hitchmough
What was your inspiration to open Studio Mink here on the mountain?
I’ve been tattooing for nearly 10 years, and I’ve travelled Australia working for other studios. I got to the point where I wanted my own space. I work with energy, and I do Reiki healing as well, so I wanted a space that was more safe and calm so my clients could come in and have that experience. I do a lot of artwork as well, so I also really wanted a space where I could display my artwork and have a gallery, where I could sell my artwork to clients and locals.
Do you have a personal style of tattooing you specialise in?
I’ve done a lot of different styles over the years and specialised in all sorts of things. At the moment I specialise in ornamentals, florals, dot work and realism. That’s quite broad, but it’s a bit more feminine, you could say. Probably 90% of my clients are female. It’s very delicate, and I do designs that shape people’s bodies really nicely and look really elegant on them, so I think females are more drawn to what I do. I specialise in portraits with my artwork, and I can tattoo portraits also.
Where does the name “Studio Mink” come from?
“Mink” came from when I first started tattooing, I used to sign my name as “O. M. Ink.” After a while, it just started looking like “Mink”. From when I first came up with the idea of opening a studio, the name was always “Studio Mink”. I like that the name isn’t really recognisable as a tattoo studio. People are more curious about what it is.
Have you noticed any trends in the tattoos people are getting, in the area or in general?
I get a lot of clients from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Byron Bay and everything. People know me for my own style now, so I’m doing that at the moment, ornamental florals and realism. Up here for the locals, I have had a few requests and it’s more smaller tattoos and pattern work. It ranges across the board. I do what I specialise in and people come to me for that. Peony flowers have been the main flower that people are getting lately.
Are there any particular trends in your clientele?
A lot of people come to me because they like my energy, and I get along with my clients. The trend would be that they’re very like-minded people. My clientele ranges from policemen to paramedics to lawyers to psychologists… Young, old, everyone.
Are you a local? What’s your opinion on the Tamborine Mountain area and community?
Yes, I do live up here now. I’ve lived all over, but the mountain’s always called my name. I relocated around August to set up the shop. I love the area and the community. I like that it’s a bit quieter than the coast, everywhere’s five minutes away. The people who live and work here are really lovely and I love running into the same people and getting to know other business owners. When you get your coffee, they remember you. I love it.
What are your favourite things to do on the mountain?
I love going to Cedar Creek Falls, that’s my favourite place, and Witches Falls, with the walk. I love doing that and the markets, which I do every fortnight.
What do you think Studio Mink really provides to the area?
I think my vision was to create a studio that was a little bit more inviting than your average studio. It’s very light, very airy, very warm and peaceful. It’s more accepting and inviting than some of your very dark energy studios with the blacked-out windows, I wanted the complete opposite of that, so people feel really comfortable booking in a tattoo. I know what that’s like. Even being in the industry, I can get nervous going in, and I don’t want people to feel that in my studio.
What do you enjoy most about doing this?
To be honest, what I enjoy most is connecting with people. It’s my clientele that I love the most. I’ve met some of my best friends through tattooing them, and I have connections all over just because of this job. That’s probably what I love the most.
What’s been your most memorable moment in your time here?
My opening day was my highlight of being here. Having all my family here and the locals coming in to have a look, it was a huge turnout and we just had such a great day, and I sold some artwork. My most memorable moment of my whole career would be meeting and tattooing Xavier Rudd, the Australian musician. I’ve done a few tattoos for him now, and it all came about because I drew a portrait of him, which is hanging up on the wall here. He saw it on Instagram, and he and his wife came and got tattooed by me, and now they’re my clients! That’s been the highlight of my tattooing career so far.
Do you have any future plans?
I’m going to be hosting exhibitions and workshops, possibly sip-and-paints, things like that, in the future. Right now I’ve been focused on my clients, but that’s a key thing I want to be offering the mountain. I also want to be able to host exhibitions for other artists and other events where people can come and paint together for the locals. I’m really excited about that, and when I’m ready, it’ll happen.
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