Large Tattoos & Full Day Sessions
The work I like making most is the work that doesn't fit into an afternoon. A back, a chest, a whole torso — drawn for that body, and built over however many days it takes.
These aren't designs picked off a wall and scaled up. I draw the piece for you, around the shape you actually are, and we figure it out together as it goes on.
How it works
1. Tell me the idea. It can be loose. "Something growing up my spine", "a vase on my stomach", or "I want my back doing and I trust you" are all good starting points.
2. I draw it. You'll see the drawing before we start, and we can move things around before anything goes on skin.
3. We work out the days. Big pieces are tattooed in full day sessions. How many depends on the size and the detail — a stomach piece might be one or two, a full back is more. We'll agree roughly how many before we begin.
4. We tattoo it. We place the stencil together, take breaks whenever you need them, and if something wants changing halfway through, we change it.
5. It heals in between. Usually a few weeks between days, so the skin is happy before we go again.
What it costs
A full day session is £750. A deposit secures your first day and comes off the total.
I can't put a price on a piece before I know what it is — the same drawing costs a different amount depending on how big it ends up and where it sits. But for anything multi-day, the day rate is how it's worked out, so you'll know where you stand before we start.
Some pieces
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Shoulder and spine
Built outwards in sections rather than drawn all at once.
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Spine
Spirals from the neck down, following the line of the back.
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Sun and moon
Two figures across the whole stomach, drawn to the body underneath.
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Dancing figures
A line of them wrapping the hips, rather than sitting flat.
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Skeleton and flower
Bold lines down one side of the ribs, with a single pop of colour.
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And the other side
Its pair on the opposite ribs, drawn to answer the first.
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A torso, built up over time
Separate pieces that add up to one thing, added session by session.
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Chest and stomach
The same vase piece, out in the Bristol rain.
Questions people ask
How much is a full day session?
£750 for a full day. A deposit secures the date and comes off the total.
Anything that doesn't need a whole day is priced on its own — tattoos start at £130.
How many days will my piece take?
It depends on the size and how much detail is in it. Something across a stomach might be one or two days. A full back is a bigger commitment than that.
I'll give you an honest estimate once I know what we're making, and I'd rather over-estimate than rush it.
How long does a back piece take?
More than one day, always. The biggest I've done so far ran to three full days. Larger backs take longer than that, and they're worth taking slowly.
Can we do the whole thing in one go?
Sometimes, if it genuinely fits into a day. Past that it's better not to — skin can only take so much in one sitting, and the work is better when it's fresh rather than pushed through at hour nine.
How long do I wait between sessions?
Usually a few weeks, so it's healed before we go again. We can book the days in advance or arrange them as we go — whatever suits you.
Do I need to know exactly what I want?
No. A feeling and a body part is enough to start with. Some of my favourite pieces began as "something growing up here" and got worked out in the drawing.
Can I bring a design I've found?
It's not really what I do, sorry. What I offer is my own drawings — either something from the artwork page, or a new one made for you in the same style.
If you've got a specific design you want copied, there are artists who'll do a better job of that than I would.
Where are you based?
I tattoo at Nice and Good Studio, 8 St Gabriel's Business Park, Easton, Bristol.
It's appointment only and I'm not there every day, so everything goes through the booking form rather than dropping in.
If you've got something big in mind, tell me about it — even if it's only a feeling and a body part.