Tedd relocated to Key Largo in 1991 and asked about opening a tattoo shop, since there were no tattoo shops in the Florida Keys at the time. The county responded by telling Tedd that he must have a doctor in the shop while tattooing, which was not realistic. Instead, he found a doctor to sponsor Key Largo Illustrations and show up four times a year to make sure that everything was up to par. However, when confronted with the county's attitude, Tedd contracted a Doctor to over see the shop. After two years the county decided that a supervising doctor did not have to be on site but rather that the shop was clean and that tattooers were certified in cross contamination and knowledgeable of health standards. Key Largo Illustrations remains the oldest and original tattoo shop of the Florida Keys.

Tedd started his three year apprenticeship in 1978 in New York City, New York. In 1982, he left for Nashville, Tennessee and opened up a shop. After a year in Nashville, he grew tired of the lifestyle and returned to New York where he worked until 1991. He then moved to Key Largo and opened Key Largo Illustrations. Tedd loved the laid back lifestyle and his life improved greatly when he met his lovely wife, Evelyn, in 1993. Evelyn then became the piercer at the shop and they enjoyed working side by side. There were always people working in Key Largo Illustrations, so in 2003 Tedd and Evelyn decided to move to their other shop in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica. They worked and played there together for two years before returning to their shop in the Keys where they have been since. During the summer months, Tedd takes opportunities to guest spot in other locations, such as Verona, Italy in 2007, Denver, Colorado in 2008, and most recently Tel Aviv, Israel in 2010. They are also the owners of Port City Tattoo in Wilmington, North Carolina. They enjoy diving in the Keys, which mixes well with their work and also have a fourteen year old son, Sean, who also helps out in the shop. As of November 22 , 2012 we are all sorry to inform you about the loss of Tedd, He was fighting cancer the best he knew how as he did everything in his life. God had different plans for him ! May you rest in peace Tedd always in our hearts and never to be forgotten ! Tedd is survived by his wife Evelyn and son Sean !
The shop will remain the same as it will be ran by his nephew Andrew who Tedd himself tought Andrew for many years,as he has been in the field of tattooing. Tedd and Andrew worked many years side by side to perfect there talents.
Andrew has an extensive back ground in Tattooing as well as art itself.
Andrew will hold the highest of standards as Tedd did himself to maintain the shop to the perfection that you deserve and expect from Key Largo Illustrations.