10/14/2026
(Matt Maguire). tomorrow marks the 15th anniversary of The Compass Rose Custom Tattoos, opened on November 15th 2011. I would like to thank all my loyal customers who helped me continue to make art and tattoos over the years.
Here’s a bit of history on who I am.
I worked as an illustrator/graphic designer directly out of highschool at a place called shirtworks on Cabbot st in Beverly then went to Planet sportswear in Cambridge Mass. during that time I went to the Art institute of Boston then transferred to the Lorenzo de’Medici school for fine art in Florence Italy. In the year 2000 I moved to studio City California to work in Comics at a place called Top cow division of Image Comics where I started off doing backgrounds for books like Tomb Raider, witchblade and the Darkness, then wrote and drew 3 published books for heavy Metal Magazine (sci-fi/fantasy) then illustrated Wolverine for Marvel. I moved back east after Sept 11, 2001. Massachusetts just legalized tattooing in January of 2002. I jumped at the opportunity to learn how to tattoo. I came in at ground level at a place called Fat Cat Tattoo on Washington at in Lynn, Mass. then worked at Chamelion tattoo in Harvard square in 2004, then the Purple Scorpion in Gloucester next to the Crows nest for a few years, then Lightwave in Saugus. The owner of Lightwave opened Witch City ink in Salem and I worked there from its inception for 5 years before I opened this shop. A total of 24 years. In that time Ive weathered the storm and maintained a long career doing art. I paint and draw like I always did I’ve had 5 art shows in various places throughout Salem before I opened this shop. During this time I brought in other artist and gave them opportunities to work tattooing, even had apprentices and taught the basics. Some went on to do very well. I’m more of an artist than a business man and now Im just concentrating on the art.
If you are looking for a well illustrated tattoo or a Big project it can take multiple sittings and you have to be able to trust the process. There are many different styles of tattooing. I prefer lining with a traditional machine for large pieces. because it’s much more dynamic then these pens that people are using. I also like coloring in a similar style to how I paint. If you are in the market for a well illustrated tattoo drawn by a person, call me at the shop (978)290-6141 or text me directly here. My website does not work and I’m in the process of building a new one. Once that happens I will be able to reach a wider audience again. Thanks and hope to see you soon.
Matt.
