Amelia’s tattoo explores motherhood, change and the reclamation of her body. The heron moves across the hip and torso so that the image shifts with her body, revealing different elements from different viewpoints. As part of Form and Flow – Body as Story, the piece uses the body itself as a narrative element rather than simply as a surface for the image.

The tattoo also marks a physical rebirth for Amelia following surgery. It incorporates scar cover-up work as well as covering an older tattoo, allowing these previous marks to be transformed into a symbol of freedom and renewal. I completed the piece at the 2022 Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival, where it received the award for Best Freehand.