The Broken Puppet

Twenty years in the chair.

Tattooist, artist, teacher, designer, YouTuber, and a dad of three little crazy boys. This is the rest of the story behind the book.

Chapter One

Raised on Sketchbooks

My name is Rick Shaw, but I'm commonly known as The Broken Puppet. I'm a tattooist, an artist, a teacher, a designer, a YouTuber, and a dad of three little crazy boys, and Partner to the most amazing woman, Gabrielle, who has stood by me through everything. My life has always revolved around art; it's my hobby, my career, my happy place, and it always will be.

I was raised in London, in a family of four brothers and an amazing mum. We weren't a wealthy family, living in council estates, but we always looked out for and encouraged each other. So I consider myself rich in the ways that truly matter. I've been drawing from a very young age, filling sketchbook after sketchbook. I've been more obsessed than most and pretty much have never stopped and never will, from college, university, tattoo studios, hospital beds and everywhere in between.

Chapter Two

Where the Name Came From

When I turned 18, my life took a harsh turn. From perfect health and an active lifestyle, I fell ill. I started losing weight rapidly, became highly anaemic, and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which aggressively affected me. Following a botched medical procedure, I struggled to breathe, and my lungs collapsed. Rushed back to the hospital, I slipped into a coma. It was a miracle that I survived. Upon waking up, I found myself attached to tubes and leads from all my limbs. A friend who visited me said, "You look like a f***ing broken puppet," and just like that, the name was born and has stuck with me ever since.

Things got worse from there: countless surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and I even developed ankylosing spondylitis, requiring crutches and a wheelchair. Yet the more hardships I faced, the more determined I became to advance my art. I'd pass out regularly just making it to college, and then I moved on to university. As I progressed, it became evident that tattooing was my path, something about skin as the canvas, the art styles, the machines and possibilities had me hooked.

Chapter Three

All In, No Half Measures

At that point I decided I would put 100% of my focus on tattooing whenever I could. I was addicted to it, still am. I had a goal, and when I'm set on something, nothing stops me.

Since then, my career has thrived. I've won awards, appeared in magazines, collaborated with incredible artists, and eventually started teaching my own apprentices. Somewhere along the way, I wanted to give other people the same sense of fun, peace, and motivation that art had given me.

Chapter Four

This Book Is the Next Step

So I started a YouTube channel to teach drawing with the sole purpose of helping others. The channel's growth and impact exceeded my intentions, revealing another path I've followed and will continue to pursue, helping others on their journeys.

This book represents my next step, and I hope the countless hours I've poured into it truly make a difference.

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A Look at the Work