Honouring Tattoo Traditions Through Contemporary Practice

Woman with blue hair holding a tattoo-style artwork featuring a heart with swords and a tiger with a butterfly. The artwork is labeled 'Sarah Ollis 24' and 'Electric Vintage Bath'. The background shows various framed images and art pieces.

I’m a professional tattoo artist with over six years of experience, specialising in gothic black and grey, Japanese traditional, and American traditional tattooing. My approach is shaped by a lifelong love of visual art and a diverse creative background — before entering tattooing, I worked as a freelance illustrator, creating album artwork and gig posters, and spent time as a graphic designer, print operator, and bar manager in a live music pub.

In 2014, I graduated with First Class Honours in Illustration from the University of Portsmouth. My foundation in illustration and print processes still influences my tattoo work today, especially in composition, texture, and storytelling.

Beyond tattooing, I’m passionate about music, mysticism, and alternative culture. I draw inspiration from the raw energy of punk, metal, and harder electronic genres like psytrance and techno. When I’m not tattooing, you’ll likely find me running, practicing yoga, knitting, exploring the outdoors, or tending to my frogs, fish, and growing collection of plants.

I aim to create tattoos that are bold, meaningful, and built to last — with every piece designed thoughtfully to reflect both the wearer and the traditions that inform the style.