'Choose the job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life' - says tatto artist Mike Millward

But now, after hours of practising on his own legs – where he drew a portrait of his wife, Kerry – before moving on to tattooing family members and friends, Mike, 28, is an award-winning tattoo artist, specialising in portraits, and even has his own studio in Shirley, Southampton.

“I’m proof that you should never give up on your dreams,” explained the married father-of-two.

“Kerry’s portrait (pictured) took four hours and I had to keep using a mirror to check how it was going as it was upside down to me. I didn’t actually tell her I was going to do it when she went out – so she got a surprise when she came home.

"She was made up though.

Mike and his wife, Kerry.

“I’ve always loved art. I was good at it and was forever drawing at school. I even won a competition to design a poster once.

“And then, when I was 15, I fell down the stairs at school and broke both my wrists.

"I had to have an investigative operation, which caused nerve damage in both my hands. That made everyday tasks really difficult – buttons were almost impossible – let alone things like drawing that required a firm grip.”

Mike’s hands were so damaged that until four years ago, he could not even carry a glass using one hand, he needed to use both of them to ensure he didn’t spill the contents when his hands shook.

When he left school, Mike went to college and then on to university to study computer and video game design, but found that he did not enjoy it.

“I really didn’t like the course,” he said.

“It was not what I expected at all, and I used to find myself sat in my lectures designing the next tattoo that I was planning to have.

“So I left the course, got a job and started practising drawing again.

"It was very, very frustrating, as I am a bit of a perfectionist and I used to ruin so many drawings when my hand would shake.

"I never gave up though.

"I used a ruler and compass to practice drawing lines and then went over them freehand. I used to spend so long practising that my hands would go numb and my back and shoulders ached!”

Once Mike’s hands began to strengthen, he managed to secure himself an unpaid tattoo artist apprenticeship at Tattoo Zone in Swaythling, where he spent many days perfecting his talent while working elsewhere.

Mike also spent time working at Ian Ink before he opened his own studio in Romsey Road, Shirley, in 2012.

Since then, he has gone on to win Best Sleeve at Reading Tattoo Convention in 2014, Best of the Day and Best Realism, both at Bournemouth Tattoo Convention in 2014 and also won a joint sponsorship deal with Jungle Tattoo Supplies.

“It sounds crazy, but when I won my awards it didn’t really sink in how far I had come. I just wanted to move straight on to the next competition at the time.

"I was, and am, always trying to push myself further. I’m always looking to better myself and I know now that nothing is impossible even if it seems it at the time.

"But, I recognise that I have come a long way and it has been an amazing journey.

“Colour portraits are really hard as they contain so much detail.

"I love seeing them as they take shape though, and the finished piece, of course.

"It’s very hard to choose a favourite tattoo that I have done. I think I probably have three – Mike Tyson, Bruce Lee and Marsellus Wallace from Pulp Fiction.

Mike Tyson.

Bruce Lee.

Marsellus Wallace

“I’m looking forward to going to the conventions again this year, and the Southampton one is starting to take shape and looks to be amazing.

“There’s an old proverb that states, ‘Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life’.

"And that really could not describe how I feel about tattooing any better!”