Lauren Tedder
Traditional Americana · Dotwork · Fineline
Growing Up in the Shop
Lauren Tedder grew up in a tattoo shop. Her father, Jeff Cohen, founded The Custom Tattoo Company in Havelock, North Carolina, in 1983. While other kids grew up around offices or classrooms, Lauren grew up around machines, flash, and the steady rhythm of a working tattoo studio. The culture of the craft was in the air before she ever picked up a machine herself.
That upbringing gave her something that can’t be taught in an apprenticeship: an intuitive understanding of what a tattoo shop is supposed to feel like, how it runs, what the standards are, and what happens when you let them slip.
The Craft
Lauren’s career took her beyond Havelock before it brought her back. She worked at Bulldog Tattoo in Corsica, France, and at Thunderbolt Tattoo in Atlanta, Georgia. Both experiences sharpened her technical ability and broadened her perspective. Working in different shops, under different conditions, with different clientele, that’s how you develop range.
Her specialties span Traditional Americana, Dotwork, and Fineline. The Traditional work connects her to the same lineage her father practiced. The Dotwork and Fineline reflect a precision and patience that define her personal approach. Lauren’s work is deliberate. Every dot, every line, every decision serves the piece.
Coming Home
When Jeff passed away in October 2018, Lauren returned to The Custom Tattoo Company. She and Dave took the shop forward together. For Lauren, the return was personal in a way that goes beyond business. This was her father’s shop. The walls, the location across from Cherry Point, the reputation Jeff built over thirty-five years, all of it carries weight. Running it is an act of continuation, not just commerce.
Today, Lauren co-owns The Custom Tattoo Company with Dave. She handles the business operations alongside her own tattooing practice. The balance between creating art and running a shop is one she learned by watching Jeff do it for decades.
Portfolio & Booking
For Lauren’s full portfolio, booking information, and availability, visit her personal site.