Before Richard Quecke ever touched a graver, he spent over two decades building a different kind of reputation; 25-plus years as a tattoo artist, a career he retired from in 2022. By then, he'd already been painting, drawing, designing, and making things for as long as he can remember. Engraving wasn't a new direction so much as the next material.

He's entirely self-taught, refusing to stay in one lane; scrollwork, portraits, bulino, lettering, precious metal inlay, he moves between techniques the way some engravers spend a lifetime committing to just one. He also insists on doing nearly everything himself, start to finish: concept, art, prep, engraving, finishing, even his own photography.

A skateboarder and self-described 80's punk rock kid at heart, Richard doesn't pretend to fit the traditional mold of the engraving community. His influences trace back to the same places everyone's do: childhood, surroundings, the things that shaped him before he ever picked up a tool. Add a quarter-century of tattooing into that mix, and his work reads less like it's following tradition and more like it's making its own rules entirely.

These days, his focus has landed on high-end knives, firearms, tattoo machines, and jewelry, along with occasional illustration work. As he puts it: his work speaks for itself.