Gold Winner Lydia K., Gem Tattoo Co.

Silver Winner Amber Thorpe, Adept Tattoos

Bronze Winner Andy Ferrier, Utility

Lydia K’s Gem Tattoo Co. is a weird and wonderful polestar of classic tattoo art, intricate designs and general cool body markings. Located at 5926 Hillside Ave #2, Lydia’s talent has her business bustling. It’s a one-woman operation, appointment only, but as you know, everything great is worth the wait. Lydia K has been tattooing since 2006 and a browse of her website, gemtattoo.ca, shows a love of the traditional. “My work is influenced by a great many things,” says Lydia K. “But I do really like folk art and traditional tattoo designs from the early days of electric tattooing.”