I had the pleasure of being invited by Lucy to Speedy’s Tattoo Studio at Atlas North East Studios in Gateshead, and honestly I had such a lovely time.

As a neurodivergent person, I really struggle with going to new places and making normal small talk, so walking into a new studio can be pretty overwhelming for me.

This was honestly one of those rare experiences where I felt comfortable almost straight away.
Lucy is so warm, patient, and genuinely kind, and made everything feel easy from the moment I arrived.

Even small things — like asking for water or needing a bit of reassurance — were handled with so much care.
I never felt like I was being awkward or that any request was “too much,” which honestly means the world when you’re someone like me who usually worries about those things.

It’s incredibly important to have accessible, queer and trans-run spaces like this, especially in the North East. 

Speedy’s Tattoo Studio really feels like a special space that puts people first.

If you’re queer, trans, neurodivergent, or just anxious about tattoo studios in general, I can’t recommend this place enough.
It’s more than just a tattoo studio — it’s a genuinely welcoming space.

Words, thoughts by Beck Carol they/them