Matthew Amey
A self-taught artist from Maryland's Eastern Shore, Matthew has been tattooing since 1991 and creating artwork for over 20 years. When not using a tattoo machine, he works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, glass, and digital design and continues to experiment with new mediums and techniques. Matthew is part owner of Independent Tattoo with Tres Denk and Jay Cooper. In 2005 he and his wife, Lisa Tossey, co-founded TossAmey Studio in Ocean Pines, Md., to showcase their photography. Beginning in Sept. 2008 Matthew will be attending the University of Delaware working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Tres Denk
Tres Denk (pronounced "Trez"), was born Jerome George Denk III, and grew up in southern York County PA. He has always enjoyed typography and illustration, and graduated Antonelli Art School with an associates degree in commercial art. After graduation however, he realized that he did not wish to pursue a professional career in commercial art and relocated to Ocean City, MD where he spent a few years in the hospitality business, and then completed a 10 year stint in a T-shirt art and manufacturing company, trading T-shirts for tattoos. He began an apprenticeship with Matthew Amey in 1996, and he continues to improve his craft, creating lasting mementos and souvenirs his customers will cherish forever.
Jay Cooper
An eastern-shore native, Jay has been tattooing since 1997 at Independent Tattoo after an apprenticeship under Matthew Amey. When not tattooing you'll find him paintin', drinkin', or jokin' the day away.
James Delzel
James Delzel was born in Florida, grew up in the DC area and moved to Maryland's Eastern Shore at 15. He has always enjoyed art and has done many murals and different commercial art projects for the town of Ocean City. His other hobbies are surfing, skating and traveling and has traveled the world several times over. Tattooing has increased his creative flow drastically and has also afforded him the opportunity to apply his many multicultural experiences to his art. Since his discovery of tattooing the art form has quickly become his preferred medium.
Emily Cress
Emily (middle name omitted (personal reasons)) Cress was born in Salisbury, MD and grew up in Frankford, DE where she learned the art of baling hay and slapping mosquitoes. She has been obsessed with drawing and painting since she was little enough to believe she might meet the Little Mermaid someday. She obtained her Bachelors in English from the University of Delaware and proceeded to teach 7th grade English and Art for a year at a small Catholic school in Baltimore. After undergrad she moved back to Slower Lower for a year of the AmeriCorp and then on (again again) to the University of Delaware for a Masters degree in Public Policy. Unfortunately (or is it), the nauseating intensity of the Masters program proved a pivotal point, and a metaphysical and epic battle ensued within and around our heroine. The end result of this internal battle being that Emily quit grad school and her hopes of a normal life, choosing instead to paint, draw and tattoo for the rest of her days (cheers)! I just love it when the good guys win.
Tasha Nilsen
Tasha Nilsen was born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs. Her creative start involved working in electronic media (TV and radio) and later, moved on to direct mail production and advertising. The love of the beach brought her to Maryland. When she's not managing the shop, you can find her cooking, boating and collecting.
