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We’re on the Eh Podcast — And Shawn Beatty Is Worth Every Minute
We had the honour of sitting down with the Eh Podcast recently — and if you haven’t listened yet, consider this your sign.
The episode features Soul Survivors co-owner Rachel Johanson alongside one of our most beloved artists, Shawn Beatty. The conversation covers where this studio came from, what drives us, and why body art has always been about more than ink. But honestly? A big reason to tune in is Shawn.
Twenty-Plus Years of Doing It His Way
Shawn Beatty has been part of the Soul Survivors family since 2011 — but his story starts a decade earlier. He began tattooing in 2002 in North Bay, Ontario, largely self-taught, with an informal apprenticeship from a friend who helped him sharpen his skills. No formal school. No traditional route. Just a deep love for art and the drive to figure it out.
Shawn has always moved through creative mediums — but tattooing caught him in a way nothing else did. The permanence of it. The idea that the art stays with you, travels with you, becomes part of you. That philosophy hasn’t left him, and you can feel it in every piece he makes.
“The idea of always carrying your art with you remains central to his passion.”
The Work
Walk into Shawn’s station and you’ll quickly realize this is someone who thinks deeply about what goes on skin. He specializes in illustrative and neo-traditional tattoos with a serious command of color theory and balance — pieces that feel considered, layered, and alive. He’s also highly skilled in Japanese-style tattooing and cover-up work, taking existing pieces and transforming them into something entirely new.
His approach to color is one of his signatures. Whether he’s deepening a shadow, softening a tone, or amplifying a bold element, Shawn uses his palette to bring out the full emotional range of a design. The result is work that doesn’t just look good on the day — it matures and holds over time.
The Person in the Chair Matters
One of the things that sets Shawn apart — and comes through clearly in the podcast — is how he shows up for first-time clients. Tattooing can feel intimidating if you’ve never done it. Shawn has a way of making that disappear. His calm demeanor, clear communication, and genuinely collaborative energy make him one of our most trusted artists for people who are new to the experience — and a reason so many clients keep coming back.
Beyond the chair, Shawn is one of the people who makes Soul Survivors feel like what it is: a team. His positivity and investment in shop culture are the kind of things that don’t show up in a portfolio but shape everything about the environment you walk into.
What the Podcast is Really About
Soul Survivors was founded in 2001 through the vision of Eric Johanson, and from the beginning it has been about more than running a studio. It’s been about empowerment, self-expression, and giving people a place to reclaim their bodies and their stories. That mission hasn’t changed — and this episode of the Eh Podcast is a chance to hear it told in our own words.
If you’ve ever wondered what this studio is actually about, or what it means to be part of a team that’s been doing this work for over two decades, this conversation is a good place to start.
Hit play. You won’t regret it.
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Hours Of Operation
Monday: Closed
Tuesday- Saturday
11 am to 7 pm
Sunday
11 am to 5 pm