Instagram: @albion_ink @_daniele_falzone_
I was invited to an event on 27th July at Albion Ink, a tattoo parlour run by tattoo artist Daniele Falzone. As a group, we witnessed Daniele at work, intricately tattooing a lucky winner from a competition he had run a few weeks prior. Watching a master at work, transforming a blank canvas of skin into a work of art with such attention to detail, was truly something to behold. I returned to Albion Ink a few weeks later to gain more insight into Daniele and his craft and to learn what brought the Sicilian native to Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Where are you from, and how did you end up in Leeds?
I am from Sicily, Italy, and I moved to the UK because I wanted to learn English first, and then I wanted to travel the world. I initially moved to Liverpool, and after three months, I started sending out CVs and working in another tattoo shop until COVID happened. That’s how I ended up here, and I fell in love with Leeds, to be honest.
Coming from Sicily, how has your Sicilian heritage influenced you and your tattoos?
For sure, it has influenced my tattoo career and my sensitivity towards art in general. I remember once, in school, we were complaining about living in the deep south of Italy, where there was nothing but traditions—no new things, no future. I remember the teacher telling us that, compared to someone from a big city like Milan or Florence, we were luckier because we grew up with fewer influences, which allowed us to develop a better sensitivity to reality, life, and the belief systems we lived in. I think that had a great impact on me and my sensitivity to art.
When did you realise you wanted to be a tattoo artist, and what type of tattoos do you specialise in?
I realised it quite late—I was 25 years old, and I had done many different jobs up until then. I always had this talent since I was a kid. I remember accurately copying everything in front of me and loving to shade in black and grey with pencils. I started quite late because I never found a particular job in the art world where I could express myself fully. One day, as a joke, I picked up my first tattoo machine, tried it, and quite enjoyed it, even the function of the machine itself. I fell in love with the process of seeing the needle coming out and putting ink on the skin. That’s how I fell in love with tattooing.
Tell us about your process—how do you achieve the level of attention to detail in your tattoos?
Like with any artisan job, there is a technique behind it. You improve day by day by practising. When I started, I always felt I was missing something, constantly wanting to improve myself. To improve, you need new skin, and this isn’t something you can easily find. Once I ran out of friends and family to practise on, I was still hungry to learn. I honestly started practising much more when I moved to Leeds. I worked constantly, day by day, with new clients, building a new clientele. That’s how I improved, and I could see the improvement in myself after 6 to 12 months. Like in any other job, I am still learning.
Has art always been a passion of yours, and do you see tattooing as an art form in itself?
No, not really, actually. Starting when I was 25, I never thought I would do this. A friend suggested tattooing to me when I was 19, but I thought it was too scary. Then I tried it as a joke and liked it. I know people in my industry who have always loved tattoos and started when they were 17 or 18, maybe because someone in their family did it. In my case, it just happened, and I fell in love with it later on.
From your parlour’s décor and atmosphere to the prime location in the centre of Leeds, is this what you have always strived to achieve, and are you proud of what you have to offer?
It wasn’t always part of my plan. When I was offered the opportunity to take over this place, the people who ran it trusted me. Since then, I started realising the potential of what the parlour could be. I fell in love with the process of decorating, improving it week by week, month by month, from every corner, with different furniture and vibes. Even though I’ve enjoyed this, it wasn’t originally part of my plan. Now, it has become part of my plan, and I’ve started looking at the place like my baby—something I should be proud of. I am proud of this place. When I was finishing the work with the builder, I felt like I was about to cry. I looked around and thought, “Wow, look at this place.” I always believe everything happens for a reason, and this was meant to happen.
Where are some of your favourite places to go in Leeds?
When I lived in Headingley, I loved it there—the energy, the vibe, the students, and the parks. Hyde Park is awesome, but I also loved walking through all the parks. They are scintillating and green, and I like to walk barefoot on the grass. We don’t have these green spaces back in Sicily like in the UK. Headingley is a gem.
You held a great event showcasing your parlour and skills. What are your plans for the future, and do you see yourself holding more events like this one?
I love music, and I used to play the guitar myself. I love the magic behind music, especially like with the event I held. I like the fact that music connects people, and my plan is to create something that connects people in a different context and environment, surrounded by art and other kinds of jobs, like a Vernissage. A Vernissage is an event where different kinds of jobs and artisan crafts come together to showcase their art—this could be sculpting, painting, music, any sort of art, usually in a showroom. So, I was thinking of something like this with a music set, a DJ set. In the future, I would love to have a pub set up in the parlour and do something different. Two years ago, I wanted to have a pub one day, and now I can look around and say, “Why can’t I do this here?” I’ve put so much effort into this place; it can become anything, really.
What makes you proud to be a Yorkshire local, and have you noticed any differences from elsewhere in the country?
I don’t know England too well, but I love Yorkshire. When I moved here, I was working on Briggate in town. I fell in love with the architecture and the colours—the sun reflecting on the buildings, and I thought it was really nice. I love the colour and the vibes of Leeds. Then I discovered that the city is surrounded by the countryside, and I love this. It’s wild and cosmopolitan, and the people are so friendly. There is a café I go to in Leeds called The New Captains Table where the owners always greet me saying, “Hi, love,” which is great. The people of Yorkshire are very nice.
