Classic skull and snake for a super cool back piece.A bold red and green rose.
Adam does old school traditional tattoos, mainly in heavy black work but if you take a look at his Instagram you’ll see some bright pieces as well.
Classic crying heart (Bert Grimm) and death mothNo Cure For Fools done in colour
If you’re looking for something classic, look no further. Adam has lots of flash to choose from, but he’ll also do up a custom piece if you ask.
Eagle vs snakeGrim Reaper and rose
Big or small, Adam does it all! Most of his work is smaller pieces that can be done in one or two sessions, but if you’re looking for something big like a sleeve or back he’s got you covered.
Super cool Alien piece done in the classic composition of a panther piece.Treehouse of Horror Bart/Edgar Allan Poe piece
Adam is a must visit artist if you’re in the Worcester area. Be sure to check out his website as well where you can buy books and flash.
Beautiful Rock of Ages.Amazing colours in this bouquet and vase.
Esther does brilliant American traditional work in colour, black and grey, and blackwork.
Super cool Midsommar piece.Healed butterfly and rose and fresh chain and barbed wire.
Her work is made to last, with thick black lines and beautifully bright colours, or heavy blackwork.
Butterfly and stars for a classic throat piece.Killer scorpion.
Esther’s Instagram is full of classics such as Pharaohs Horses, Battle Royale’s, ships and more. But check out her flash for something drawn up by her, or email her for a custom design.
Blackwork Battle Royale.Lady head with flowers in her hair.
Large or small pieces, Esther has you covered. Whether you want a small gap filler in your sleeve or a full back piece, Esther is a must see artist if you’re visiting Montreal or live nearby.
Love this classic spiderweb lady.Awesome blackwork ship and mermaids.
Hattie Rich is an artist working out of Rose of Mercy in London, England. Her work is mainly filed with old school traditional work, but she also does great ornamental pieces.
classic swallow and roseBold crab lady on the neck
Hattie has lots of flash to choose from, both old school and ornamental, or you can also bring your own idea!
Elbow spider-webBlack and grey swallows and flowers
Whether you like bright and colourful, or black and bold, you can be sure Hattie will have something you’ll love. In her flash you’ll find lots of lady heads, flowers, dragons, animals, and more.
Sleeping kewpie and roseHand of glory
The ornamental work currently on Hattie’s Instagram will remind you of delicate lace patterns, and can be made to fit most parts of the body.
Ornamental hand pieceGeisha and dragon
If you can’t make it all the way to London from outside of the UK you can also purchase merchandise and flash from Hattie here. But if you’re in the area or live nearby be sure to get a cool piece from Hattie at Rose of Mercy.
Black and grey Coleman ladyClassic lady and spider-web
David O’Connor is a traditional tattoo artist working out of Trophy Tattoo in Hamilton, Ontario. The shop caters specifically to those looking for American traditional tattoos, and all of the artists who work there do fantastic work.
Jesus chest pieceOld school flowers
Davids Instagram is full of classic flash and finished pieces that would have been seen on the walls of tattoo shops throughout the 1900’s and on the bodies of sailors.
Healed GeishaBlack traditional chest piece
When booking a tattoo with David you can choose from pre-drawn flash or bring your own idea to the table. David and the rest of the shop also take walk-ins.
Tiger vs snakeClassic old school dragon
The majority of his work is done in colour, with the traditional colours of black, red, and green, but if you’re looking for some black traditional work he’s got you covered as well.
Queen of Heartsmatching forearm pieces
Whether you’re looking for a small walk-in piece or a full back, David does it all, with style. If you’re in Hamilton or just passing through he is a must see artist for all your traditional needs.
Duan Tattooer is an artist at and the owner of Sick Rose Tattoo Parlour in Shanghai, working alongside great artists in the shop like Kai who tattooed me.
Woman and dragonMonkey King
Duan specializes in American traditional and single needle styles, seamlessly blending old school American and Asian motifs.
Traditional woman portraitKnee ditch webs
Whether you’re looking for bright and bold colours, black and grey, or heavy black traditional work, Duan can take care of all your needs.
Black trad horseMatching hands
If you check out their Instagram linked above you’ll find plenty of flash to choose from, or you can check out the shop in person and find the perfect tattoo for you.
A classic roseSuper cool cat lady
Whether you’re in the market for a full sleeve or a small filler piece, Duan is a must visit artist in Shanghai for clean and bold tattoos.
Tony Torvis is the owner of Mortem Tattoo in Montréal, Canada. His work consists of traditional old school designs without colour, making his clients look like the brilliant black and white photographs of days long past.
Full sleeve with hand Battle Royale on the stomach
Tony’s work is reminiscent of the great tattooers of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s but is still recognizable as a Tony Torvis piece.
Full back featuring a dragon and ladiesBeautiful chest piece
Expect crisp clean lines and bold, powerful motifs such as dragons, snakes, lady heads, portraits, and flowers. There is original flash in the shop to choose from, or you can bring your own idea to him, or re-create an old piece of historical flash.
Pharaohs cats as part of a back pieceAngelic ladies
Tony’s Instagram page is full of both large and small scale work, from chest pieces to full backs, sleeves, and little filler pieces.
Full front torso, some healed some freshBert Grimm sintered chest piece
You’ll also notice from his Instagram page that the majority of clients are repeat customers. Tony’s tattoos are kind of like chips, you just can’t stop at one! Mortem tattoo is a must visit shop if you’re in the area, and there are other brilliant artists working there as well.
Moira Ramone is a tattoo artist working out of Bont & Blauw Tattoo in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Moira does old school and neo-traditional work with and without colour, with a particular love for all things horror and punk.
A classic demon breaking free of its shacklesKiefer Sutherland as David from “The Lost boys”
Moira’s Instagram page is filled with images such as punk rock girls with black boots and tattoos of their own, horror icons like Jason Voorhees and Christmas Devil Krampus, circus performers, and portraits (among others).
The Hindu Goddess KaliClassic horror sleeve
Moira makes a point to create a safe space for all people regardless of skin colour, gender identity or sexual orientation. Tattooing is quite an intimate experience so it’s always great to be able to receive your new art from someone who makes an effort to make all people comfortable.
Old school back featuring Bert Grimm’s butterfly ladyNo Means No!
Whether you’re looking for a small or large piece, Moira does it all. If you’re passing through you can get something smaller, or if you live in the area (or can get there easily) maybe you could start a full back or sleeve.
Krampus bringing some naughty children down to HellAll Cops Are Bastards tombstone
If you can’t make it all the way to the Netherlands for a tattoo, or just want to support Moira from a distance you can check out her store here and get yourself some clothing, books, stickers, candles, original paintings, or prints.
Punk girl meets the devilCircus performer featuring her own tattoos
Percy Waters was a well-known American tattoo artist from the early 1900’s. Born in 1888, in Anniston, Alabama, he was (allegedly) first introduced to tattooing through the sideshows of traveling circuses that passed through his hometown. At the time he was learning the trade of molder, and tattooing locals became a hobby on the side.
He’s known to many as a Michigan artist, and not from a small town in Alabama, due to the fact that in 1917 he tattooed someone he shouldn’t have and got in trouble. He left Anniston and moved to Detroit, Michigan. He built up a successful tattoo business where he also sold supplies to other tattoo artists. In 1929 he even got a license for his tattoo machine design, which was an adjustable two-coil electromagnetic machine that hasn’t changed too much in modern tattoo machines. It had also taken almost 55 years (from 1875) for the tattoo machine to be adjusted after Edison’s machine. In 1939 he moved back to Anniston and ran what was most likely the biggest tattoo supply company in the world at the time until his death in 1952.
Two men tattooed by Percy WatersMan tattooed by Percy Waters in 1921
Percy was very modest and was known to call himself “just a good tattooer”; However, he was quite well known regardless of his humility, particularly in the sideshow world where he tattooed “tattoo attractions” such as; Bobby Smith, Red Van, Detroit Dutch, Shelley Kemp, Clyde Williams, and Mrs. Ted Hamilton among others.
His style stays true to early 20th century old school designs. With classics such as portraits of women, dragons, eagles, snakes, panthers, good luck symbols, ships, and more. His original designs are still redrawn often today, and many contemporary artists are heavily inspired by him in their own styles.
Some of the most well-known tattoos he did were Pharaohs’ Horses as a back piece, an image of a woman riding an eagle, and whole-body suits made up of patriotic American pieces coupled with images such as butterflies, flowers, dragons, snakes, and ladies.
Ryan Cooper Thompson is a well-known tattoo artist based in Portland, Oregon. His work is a highly recognizable take on classic American traditional, using only black, red, and green in his colour palette, and taking direct inspiration from greats such as Percy Waters, Bob Wicks, and George Burchett.
A beautiful rose/butterfly lady A bold back of the head lady head
Ryan’s lady portraits in particular are highly sought after, and his instagram feed is full of them for good reason; his ladies range from heads to full bodied nudes to butterfly ladies, and are wonderful to look at whether they’re palm sized or full backs.
Dragon lady thigh pieceA bold knee design
If you’re getting your own RCT piece you can choose to have something custom designed, a piece of flash made by Ryan, or a flash piece based on older artists work that often date back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
A beautiful nude portrait and some butterfliesA gorgeous dragon lady back featuring butterflies
Along with ladies you’ll find lots of flowers, dragons, butterflies, and other animals in his portfolio and on the walls of his shop.
A bright and bold peacockA classic panther and rose
Ryan tattoos everything from hands to backs, large and small, one session to multiples. So whether you live nearby or are just passing through you’ll be able to get yourself a timeless piece. (Though he is only tattooing people in the Oregon and Washington area during pandemic times). If you can’t make the trip to get a tattoo you can also buy prints of his here.
All Things Tattoo 