John Feary is a mural and tattoo artist who works from Shipshape Tattoo at 1443 Dairy Flat Highway, in Dairy Flat on Auckland's northern edge. He takes commissions for both tattoos and murals, and travels for work. He specialises in black and grey realism and geometric and mandala tattooing. The website shows murals at Sherwood Primary School in Browns Bay, including a 40-foot shipping container artwork, and a stained glass piece at Good Shepherd School in Balmoral. He has been tattooing since 2012 and has painted murals across Auckland for about four years.
Customers say the work is high standard, and the detail is exceptional. One client had a full forearm sleeve done and says the studio is safe, clean and private, with the artist easy to talk to about the design. Another says he is professional, friendly and helpful in making decisions about a piece. A third calls the outcome something that leaves you wanting more. To start a commission, the website asks for a brief description of the piece, and the artist replies from there.