Best Tattoo Studios in Canterbury
The best tattoo studios in Canterbury range from busy shops with a roster of resident artists to small studios where you deal with the tattooist directly. Every place here does tattoos, and several pierce too. Student tip: scroll each artist’s Instagram before you enquire, send reference pictures with the size and placement, and bring photo ID, because UK law says nobody under 18 can be tattooed.
- 6 places
- What each one is best for
- Website and Google Maps for each
- 1
Drawn and Quartered
Drawn and Quartered sits in Charlotte Mews on Wincheap and calls itself queer-owned, with everyone welcome. Its resident artists do custom and flash work, from Liam Collins' ornamental and illustrative pieces to Katy's blackwork, gothic and neo-traditional designs. Enquiries go through its Get Ink booking form, so have reference pictures ready.
- 2
Blue Sunday Tattoo Studio
Blue Sunday is a small tattoo shop on Burgate, right in the heart of the city. Its artists include Ross Fielder, whose Instagram lists illustrative, botanical, fineline and realism work, plus Aimee Lee and Bill B. Most artists take bookings by email, and piercer Chanelle works from the same address if you fancy adding some metal.
- 3
Three Crows Tattoo
Three Crows on Castle Street is a custom tattoo shop that says it covers all styles, so bring the idea and let them draw it up. Booking is refreshingly simple: message them on Instagram or Facebook, or send an email. Scroll the Instagram grid first to see their work.
- 4
Blaze Tattoo
Blaze Tattoo on Castle Street is a tattoo and body piercing studio, and Mick is the name on the website. His page is a long gallery of finished pieces, so you can check his work before you call. The studio also runs a Facebook group to show off tattoos done there.
- 5
Skin Illustrations Tattoos and Piercing
Skin Illustrations has studios across Kent, and the Canterbury branch sits on St Peter's Street. The Canterbury team covers a lot of ground: Dave Foxley does freehand realism and gothic black and grey, Emmy Jade leans into micro realism and American traditional, and Lauren Corke loves witchy, cutesy and neo-traditional designs. Piercing is on offer too.
- 6
The Belly Bar
The Belly Bar on Canterbury Lane has been piercing and tattooing since 1997, and Zink Studios has now moved in under the same roof. Eddie loves freehand neo-traditional work, Monty does custom, flash and freehand, and there is cosmetic tattooing too. Tattoos are strictly 18 plus with photo ID, and they run Challenge 25.
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