Based in Luton, Bedfordshire, Alan’s Tattoo Studio specialises in large scale custom tattoos, including full sleeves, back pieces and full body projects. With decades of experience in black and grey realism and custom design, each tattoo is carefully planned to suit the individual, ensuring the artwork flows with the body and stands the test of time. Clients travel from across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties for high-end, bespoke tattoo work built over multiple sessions with a strong focus on detail, longevity and craftsmanship.

Connor has been a long-term client of mine, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to complete multiple large-scale tattoo projects for him, including a full black and grey religious sleeve, a Japanese sleeve, and additional work across his legs. Like many of my clients, once one project is underway, the ideas for the next start to take shape.

While working on his religious sleeve, Connor began discussing his next piece — a full front tattoo. He came in with a very clear concept, which is always a strong starting point, but what makes these projects work is the time spent refining and evolving the idea together over multiple sessions.

The concept was a Day of the Dead-inspired love scene, but with a darker, more personal edge. The design centred around a highly detailed black and grey composition featuring a Day of the Dead girl and her skeleton lover. He envisioned her with traditional makeup and floral elements, while the skeleton figure would be dressed in a suit, offering his heart — the heart itself being the only element in colour to create a strong focal point within the piece.

During the process, Connor brought in reference images to guide the direction and mood, but not to copy. This is a key part of how I work at Alan’s Tattoo Studio — using references as inspiration while creating something completely original and tailored to the individual.

Between sessions, I produced rough designs which we reviewed together at each appointment. This allowed us to refine the flow of the tattoo across the body, ensuring the composition worked naturally with Connor’s shape. Making adjustments over time is essential on large-scale custom tattoos, especially when aiming for a piece that will age well and maintain its impact.

Once the final design was agreed, we began by placing the full composition to ensure everything sat correctly. From there, the tattoo was built up over multiple sessions. Work of this scale — particularly detailed black and grey realism in sensitive areas like the torso — requires patience from both artist and client.

With over 30 years of tattooing experience, I’ve learned that revisiting healed areas is key to achieving the best possible result. By layering contrast and refining detail over time, the final outcome reaches a level that simply isn’t possible in fewer sessions.

Session by session, we developed the piece — connecting elements, building depth, and pushing the detail further each time.

This is without doubt one of my favourite tattoos and a project I’m incredibly proud of. Working with returning clients like Connor, who trust the process and allow the time needed, is what makes these large-scale custom tattoos possible.