Raymond Durham has been tattooing professionally since July of 2016. He started to pursue tattooing in 2015 in his home state of Virginia. Since then, he has worked in New Jersey and across North Carolina before finding his home in the Triangle.

When I was younger, I always enjoyed drawing. My father would encourage my drawing by playing drawing games with me as a child. Looking back, I can see through the games he not only helped develop my interest in art but also helped me develop problem solving skills and resiliency.

My formal art background doesn’t go any further than a few classes in High School. I attended a community college but it’s the classic story of pressure from a parent. I wanted to go to college for art and business and my mother wanted me to take my art skills and pursue a more practical career of general engineering with drafting and design. So, I did just that. That didn’t hold my interest more than a few years, so I ended up not going back after summer semester. I worked a few part time/ odd jobs before working full time in a cabinet factory. Almost four years later after losing my best friend to an accident. I decided that life is too short to give all my time to a corporation. A corporation that could care less about me or my life, so I started to pursue art and tattooing.

Without much luck in my hometown, I ended up starting an apprenticeship in a very unprofessional tattoo environment. Although it was a blessing in disguise, I learned what not to do first in my career. After that experience I worked on my own unprofessionally until I was presented the opportunity to move to New Jersey. There I searched for a place to work until I landed an opportunity in Jersey City. After about a year of working in Jersey City I made my way to what would become another home for me. I meet my good friend and artist Andrew James at his studio Bayonne Tattoo Company in Bayonne New Jersey. I worked there for about another year until my life situation changed and I found myself heading back south. I ended up working in Greensboro North Carolina at Cosmic ink for a bit then I tried working in Florida, then eventually making my way back and working in Fayetteville North Carolina. From there I meet some new friends and after about five months I was dancing with burnout. Knowing that as an artist I wouldn’t have a lot of opportunity to progress in my career if I stayed where I was, I took an opportunity to move to Durham North Carolina. From there I have worked at a few studios in the area before opening Lucid Studio in Chapel Hill with the love of my life Danielle.

Tattooing has allowed me to build a new perspective on life. To me it’s a discipline. It has given me something to work towards. A chance to be a leader of my life. The opportunity to serve others in a permanent and intimate way. I owe tattooing my all just as I owe God my all.

In the past few years, I have been working toward becoming excellent in all areas of my life. In 2021 I decided to take my fitness and health more serious, and through meeting great people in the fitness community, trainers, and the 75 Hard program I was able to lose a significant amount of weight and completely turn myself around. Now fitness training and pushing my limits are a daily discipline and through that discipline I have not only become a better person but a better artist. Doing physical activities is one of my favorite hobbies. I’ve enjoyed doing a half marathon, a Spartan race, and the Elite Games. I’m currently attending classes at a Gracie Jujitsu school and consistently strength training. Both of those things have started to become a part of who I am, along with being an artist.

Aside from tattooing, art, fitness, jujitsu, I really enjoy helping others, serving, and giving back. One of the ways God led me to help others is through charity. In the past I greatly enjoyed volunteering at St. Matthew Trinity Lunchtime Ministry in Downtown Hoboken New Jersey. There was my first experience with helping those that were less fortunate. looking back my time there brought me great joy and taught me the importance of looking at life with a greater perspective than myself. Since then, I have continued to try to help others by donating and participating in events that help those who are hungry, need clothing/supplies, or those that need shelter. In the Triangle I currently contribute to Urban Ministries of Durham, IAC Kids, and Trinity Life Church. One of my personal missions is not only helping others through charity but to consistently try to live my life where I add value at every opportunity that I can. Even if it’s only a smile at a stranger or encouraging a friend while they peruse their goals