Free World Tattoo receives two Faces Awards nominations

By Makayla Peacock

A Centretown tattoo studio and one of its employees are up for two Faces Awards recognizing Ottawa’s best tattoo parlour and tattoo artist.

Free World Tattoo, located on Preston Street, is nominated for a second year after just two and a half years of business. Tattoo artist Scott McCauley is also being recognized for his work with the studio.

The Faces Awards recognize prominent people and businesses in Ottawa. Local residents are eligible to vote for their favourite facilities and people, from athletes to Italian restaurants.

“It feels great to be nominated, the fact that someone took time out of their day to mention us is flattering to say the least,” said Riley Long, a Free World employee. “I don’t personally have a lot of experience at other shops, but based on what I’ve heard from customers, we offer a welcoming environment where someone can be comfortable getting their first or 50th tattoo.”

According to Free World’s website, Ottawa’s “raddest” tattoos are done within the walls of the studio. They encourage people to come to them with their own idea for a tattoo, be it a portrait, realism, abstract, watercolour or Japanese characters.

The customers act not only as canvases for the artists to showcase their art, but as a means of spreading the word, Free World said.

“Our customers are our marketing team as much as they are our patrons,” said Long. “Whether it be word of mouth or someone posting on Facebook, almost everybody that walks through the door has come on a recommendation.”

“In the two and a half short years that we’ve been open, we’ve consistently had more and more new people walking through the door,” he said.

The Faces Awards take place on Friday at 8 p.m. at Lago Bar Grill on Queen Elizabeth Drive. More information is available on their website.