Pre-social media days, it was hard to find a tattooist whose artistic style aligned with your own.
But now that you can discover tattoo artists with the scroll of your thumb, design inspiration has become endless.
Whether you’re considering getting a tattoo, looking to add another, or if you are here just for the art work, these are some of the Bristol tattoo artists Instagram accounts you should follow.
Matthew James - @matthewjamestattoo
Tattooing for 13 years, Matthew James is a pro at realistic designs. Specialising in grey and black, expect to find examples of the Bristol-based tattooist’s sharp skills on his feed.
With a passion for art, Matthew spends a lot of his time taking to paper with a range of materials from pencil to charcoal, drawing life-like designs.
If you are eager to have a portrait tattooed but worry it won’t resemble the real thing, Matthew is the account to follow.
Kat James - @Katjamestattoo
Kat’s Instagram page features colourful and ‘nerdy’ tattoos, but she is also known for her realism. Considering herself a 'nerd’, Kat enjoys creating colourful artwork.
With 14 years experience, some of her designs include Marvel’s Thor, DC’s The Joker and Flash Gordom’s Prince Vultan.
Her quirky aesthetic typically uses black ink with a wash of soft colour.
Simon Si - @ArtofSimonSi
Simon Si has been tattooing for four and a half years and is tattoo parlour No Regrets’ blackwork and geometry expert.
His instagram tats are often centred about an original blackwork style that incorporates geometric patterns, dotwork and illustrative art, creating a unique piece for every customer.
He’s not only magical with the ink, but when Simon is not tattooing he performs magic all over the world.
Paula Castle - @Paulacastletattoos
This is not body paint.
Tattoo artist Paula has perfected the art of graphic tattoo work, and her work explains why she has 32.6k followers on instagram.
From Hocus Pocus and Frozen, to the iconic Burn Book from the movie Mean Girls, Paula's pop art designs are immediately recognisable as her incredible work.
Lewis Oxenham - @Lewistattoos
With over 1,500 followers, Lewis’ has an ‘all rounded style’ but his feed boasts his talent for black and grey realism.
This artists incredible work various portraits and animal designs, not to mention clients with detailed ‘Game of Thrones’ inspired sleeves.
With four and a half years experience, this Bristol based tattoo artist has incredible talent for intensely shaded designs.
