the story behind moonlit fangs tattoo
it’s totally normal to want to know more about the person who is altering your body for life
below is the biography of your artist & how the shop came to be
the shop
As a tattoo artist with ethics, and as a client who has personally experienced issues in the industry (toxic power-dynamics, harmful environments & emotional/physical trauma), Jess Gowling was motivated to build a shop & be part of the necessary shift in culture.
Through client-focus, formal education, empathy, & awareness, Moonlit Fangs Tattoo guarantees you’ll be safe, supported, & empowered when modifying your body with art; you will love your tattoo and your experience.
Moonlit Fangs Tattoo opened in December 2022 & is named after the large scale mixed media painting that hangs in the shop. The business is part of an eclectic Downtown Cranbrook building just off of Baker Street. Extensive renovations focused the shop’s design around safety & support, making it private, clean, bright & comfortable. Moonlit Fangs became an eco-certified shop in the spring of 2023.
owner & tattoo artist
Jess Gowling (they/them) achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art Printmaking in 2010, specializing in etching, engraving & illustration. Transitioning to tattooing in 2020 came naturally: engraving designs onto skin instead of metal & paper. In 2022 Jess renovated a downtown space in Cranbrook B.C. & opened an inclusive, eco-friendly & trauma-informed shop.
Jess’s blackwork tattoos hold the same line work, detail, & essence of their fine art. For the past 15 years, their practice has featured animal & botanical imagery through an esoteric lens. The artist is best known for their detailed animal portraiture, illustrative line work, and legacy project: the 100 Ink Animals Oracle Deck.
Their artwork has been featured by Sakura, Etsy, Colossal, Global Television, Canadian Living, Kickstarter, Biddy Tarot, Booooooom, The Sketchbook Project, Uppercase Magazine, Maker’s Magazine & Digital Artist Magazine. You may also recognize Jess from their time on the hit reality TV show Big Brother Canada.
education & training
Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art Printmaking 2010
Tattoo & Piercing Safety Certification 2021
Trauma Informed Tattooing 2021
Compassion Fatigue, Boundaries & Burnout for Tattooists 2021
Eco-Shop Certification 2022, 2023, & 2024
Interior Health Authority Certification 2022, 2023 & 2024
Cranbrook City Business License 2022, 2023 & 2024