ADEPT is an AWARD WINNING tattoo and body piercing studio with two locations located in the heart of Halifax and Bedford, NS. Most recently ADEPT was named BEST TATTOO SHOP in The Coast’s Best Of Halifax readers choice awards for every year from 2012 to 2019. In previous years, The Coast readers poll has awarded us Gold and Silver placements for the Best Tattoo Shop and Best Artist categories each year. Amber Thorpe is an 8 time Coast Best of award winner, voted Halifax’s Favorite Tattoo Artist Faces Magazine 2012 and has won numerous other trophies .
At ADEPT we offer only the best talent with state of the art equipment and ink, tattooing for the future. All of our work will last and still look great for years to come. We achieve this through thorough training and experience.
We specialize in custom artwork, drawn by our talented artists to fit your unique design needs. Call our shop to book a consultation with the artist of your choice. A consultation appointment is a free service offered by us to the client so they can brainstorm with their artist. This is a chance for the client to give the artist their idea and bring any reference images, and for the artist to figure out what will look good and work with the placement of the piece on the body.
Book an Appointment Schedule a PiercingWe use barrier control- this means everything we may come in contact with during the tattoo and piercing process is covered. We have a separate sterilization area specifically designed for the least amount of cross contamination possible. We will gladly guide you through our process because we feel that our clients should know – so don’t be afraid to ask.
Our goal is to make this process as safe and comfortable as possible, for both us and our clients.
Our sterilizer is biologically tested by an outside lab every 2 weeks. An indicator strip is dated and put into each cycle, this ensures that the autoclave is working properly and safely. Results are posted at the front of the shop. ALL NEEDLES ARE BRAND NEW.
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I grew up in Niagara Falls, Ontario where I studied Fine Arts at Stamford Collegiate. Some of the classes included were sculpting, ceramics, painting (acrylics), mobiles, printmaking, and building/painting stage sets for productions.
I started my career in 1998 at Way Cool Tattoos under Harley Charlie (RIP<3) and Crazy Ace (RIP). I learned all there is to know about cleaning, scrubbing, sterilization and how a tattoo studio functions professionally. After about six months of cleaning and drawing, I finally got to do my first piercing.
About a year later, I received an opportunity to open a shop in Medicine Hat, Alberta called Extreme Tattoos with Charlie. I made the journey west and began my tattoo apprenticeship under him. After three years of learning, I decided to venture out on my own. I moved to Calgary and found myself at the Arthouse Inc. where I was for two and a half years.
To further my education, I have taken classes from predominant tattoo artists (such as Deano Cook and Mike Demassi). I have also attended many conventions and been tattooed by artists I look up to. I taught a drawing class called The Art of Tattooing at the Alberta College of Art and Design for two years.
I opened Adept Tattoos in May of 2006. Two hours after I opened the door, a gentleman came in for a tattoo. I asked him what he wanted and he said the Alexander Keith’s deer. So that was the first tattoo I did in Halifax. Since then I started The Maritime Tattoo Festival.
The festival has kept me on my toes and hanging out with some of the best artists to date. I try to keep a hungry outlook on tattoos and my art. I have won numerous awards and am blood borne pathogen certified.
In my spare time I like to cuddle with my fur babies, play sports, competitive billiards, ride my motorcycle and interior/landscaping design.
A artful brand of clothing that fits amazing and says everything about your style without ever saying a word.
Check it out my new clothing line and all my prints are available here! https://intrinsicartfashion.com/
I was born and raised in Shanghai, China, and in the summer of 2012, I moved to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, where I started my visual artist career(mostly landscapes). Under the tremendous influence of my mum, who was working for the production of cartoon series like Dragon Ball or Saint Seiya back then, I started drawing or painting when I was around three.
However, tattooing was becoming a type of fashion instead of gangster affiliated in Asia after 2010, I went back home in the summer of 2016 and did my apprenticeship under a world-wide famous tattoo artist, Bill Du. During the days in Tianzuntang Tattoo Studio (天尊堂), I learned not only the technic of tattoo or art, but also the asian craftsmanship spirit which means lifetime commitment to the industry.
My speciality is neo traditional asian style, black and grey realistic, and I enjoy doing free hand tattoos.
Hello!
My name is Kassandra, an artist illustrator and now tattoo apprentice!
I have always had a passion for illustration. I love making prints, stickers and other handmade art goodies. My goal is to create things that spark joy in others.
While I always loved the idea of becoming a tattoo artist, it felt like an impossible dream that would never happen. In 2022 I started my tattoo journey at Adept Tattoos. Working and learning under Amber Thorpe, and I have now accomplished my impossible dream.
I look forward to creating fun tattoos that make you smile 🙂
– photo by Evan Purney
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I was born in Mackenzie British Columbia and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ever since a young age, I have always spent my time drawing, painting, and working to improve my artwork.
I have been tattooing since 2008. I’m versatile in all styles but my specialty is black and grey realism and portraits. I also like doing landscapes, custom lettering, and colour work. I also create oil paintings, charcoal drawings, and wood burnings.
I enjoy spending time with my family, painting, and studying new techniques to apply in my art when not tattooing.
I am from Newcastle, England. After travelling a lot of Europe and South East Asia I decided to relocate here to Halifax in the summer of 2022.
I have been tattooing and piercing for many years and also owned my own studio back in the UK for a number of years meeting many amazing people along the way.
I enjoy painting and producing digital art.
My favorite styles are black dot work, florals and mandalas. I am also versatile in other styles of work.
In my free time you’ll usually find me travelling, doing water sports or watching football.
My name is Andrew and I love tattooing bold traditional/ old school tattoos. I love tattooing black and grey but also enjoy doing colour as well. I take inspiration form a lot of older tattoo artists such as Ed Hardy, Sailor Jerry, and many more pioneers of tattooing. My goal for tattooing is making tattoos that will stand the test of time, the bolder, darker and more saturated the better! I also am willing to do other styles and like stepping out of my comfort zone every once and a while.
Greg always knew he wanted to have an exciting career in body piercing so he left his small home town at the age of 16 in search of greatness. In Alberta is where he honed his skills for many years and now with 22 years of experience he is here to offer only the best of service. With multiple techniques for each piercing and vast knowledge in human anatomy you can rest assured your piercing is done correctly and with the proper jewelry. Greg can do any and all body piercings imaginable as well as microdermals. If you have an idea for something new or a fun modification project in mind Greg is the right piercer for you.
Meeting Greg Brown was what first sparked my interest in piercing. So when the opportunity to become his apprentice came, I jumped on the chance and never looked back. I’ve always been a very technical person and the precise art of piercing came very naturally.
My upbeat personality and easy going nature is a great asset for putting nervous clients at ease before a new piercing.
I can do the rubik’s cube in under a minute, and love to do party tricks. Come in for a new piercing or jewelry and be entertained as well.
Piercings are done by appointment only. For a client to sign for themselves, they must be of age with a government-issued photo ID.
(ID, Drivers License, Passport) Ages to sign for yourself with a government-issued photo ID are as follows:
*Parental consent is not accepted for piercings that you must be 18+ for.
*A health card or birth certificate is not acceptable as the only form of ID for a minor to sign for themselves.
*Parental consent requires a health card or birth certificate for the minor & government-issued photo ID from the Parent.
At Adept Tattoos Amber Thorpe has been performing cosmetic tattooing for many years, including facial tattooing (eyebrows etc.) and nipple tattooing.
Amber takes pride in helping breast cancer survivors / reconstruction patients to regain confidence in their bodies. Local Halifax surgeons refer their patients to Amber regularly. Most recently Amber spoke at the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day Event and works closely with that community of doctors to continue to provide this valuable service.
To book an appointment with Amber call 902-405-4009 and dial ext #2 for the Bedford location.
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