WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Some journeys are easy while others are difficult, this includes one tattoo artist who owns a shop in Downtown Wilmington.
Chris Dobson now owns Castle Keep Tattoo in Wilmington but it’s hard to believe this is where he now spends his days.
For a decade he was confined to a much smaller space, prison.
“I was stuck in a cell, around the worst of the worst,” said the owner of Castle Keep Tattoo Chris Dobson.
In his early 20s, Dobson was convicted of a crime and landed in prison in 2011. But that was only part of his demons: he was addicted to drugs.
“I was so broke down, that there was nothing for me to grab onto,” said Dobson.
Grabbing onto a pencil and paper, provided a physical release from the walls around him and an outlet for the creativity swirling in his head.
While everything else had fallen apart, art is where he found calm and comfort.
“I realized that tattooing was going to be the thing that I really focused on,” said Dobson.
Dobson was ready to take on the challenge, but other’s around him didn’t think he would be successful.
“I was always told, you’d never make money like that, you’ll never be able to become successful; that’s when I fell into a depression,” said Dobson.
This was another obstacle in Dobson’s love, but his love for art helped overcome it, “I decided I’m going to win instead of lose,” said Dobson.
After being released from prison, he turned in his pencil and inked a deal to create Castle Keep Tattoo.
This time around, he had a supportive crew with him.
“I have some really great artists that I’ve known for a while to come with me and open it up,” said Dobson.
Years later, Dobson and his fellow artists have created breathtaking tattoos with stellar reviews from customers and he has no plans of stopping.
“Keep pushing and pushing and continuing to get better,” said Dobson.
The irony is, unlike his artwork Dobson is living proof decisions you make earlier in life don’t have to be permanent.
“If the person I was ten years ago came through the door, I would tell him to turn around and leave,” said Dobson.
A story that he hopes others can follow, “I’ve got pretty much everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” said Dobson.
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