Peter Coinin, Sr., majored in art at Pace University and followed that with the study of Graphic Arts at New York University, Photo Journalism at The School of Visual Arts and Commercial Photography at The Germain School of Photography. He worked as the Creative Arts Director at the Frick Collection and at Sotheby's before tattooing. He had already been tattooing for many years when he established The Beauty Mark Studio in 1979. He is an accomplished children's' book illustrator and writer, and also designs and creates works of art in stone with a special gift in Celtic design.