The artist matters more than the studio's name, the price or the location. The right one turns your idea into something better than you imagined; the wrong one leaves you with a permanent compromise. Here's how to choose well.
Match the artist to your style
No one is great at everything. A blackwork specialist, a realism artist and a fine-line artist are different crafts. Decide on the style you want first, then find someone who lives in it — like our resident artists, each focused on one discipline.
Read the portfolio — especially healed work
Fresh tattoos always look sharp. Healed photos tell the truth about how an artist's work settles and lasts. Look for clean lines, solid black, consistent quality across many pieces — not just a couple of standouts. Browse our gallery as an example of what to look for.
Check hygiene and the studio
Non-negotiable: single-use, sterile needles, gloves, fresh setups and a clean, dedicated space. A professional studio is happy to show you its standards — if anything feels off, walk away.
Look at reviews and reputation
Genuine Google reviews and an active, consistent Instagram tell you how an artist treats clients and how their work holds up. A steady stream of happy clients is the best signal there is.
The consultation
A good artist listens, asks questions and is honest about what will and won't work as a tattoo. Custom work should be drawn for you, not pulled from a flash sheet and repeated. If an artist won't discuss your idea, that's a red flag.
Red flags to avoid
- No portfolio, or only fresh (never healed) photos.
- Reluctance to talk about hygiene or sterilisation.
- Pressure to decide on the spot, or prices that seem too good to be true.
- Copying another artist's work exactly rather than designing for you.