17/06/2026
Portrait of Kevin Gray by Jason Minauro | Now retired from the industry, Kevin embodied the pioneer spirit of New Zealand.
Kevin was more interested in art than books in school, his teachers couldn’t keep him from drawing all over his books and his arms. Kevin jumped into the work force early and began working his way up. He worked as an office clerk, truck driver and sign writer before teaching himself most of what he knows about tattooing.
Kevin’s shop in the 1960s & 70s was the latest in science and comfort with its red carpeting, white leather seating, stainless steel and formica fittings.
Kevin is was even working to develop a new technique, which he termed “audio-analgesia,” to reduce first-tattoo nervousness: the client put on headphones and listened to soft music during the work. An approach that we now see everyday.
Kevin passed his shop on to Roger Ingerton when he retired, where Roger continued revolutionising the trade of tattooing in New Zealand for the decades that followed.
