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Tom Stephenson

@tomstephensontattoo

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2895

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DIARY NOW OPEN
Booking - OCT/DEC
📍Birmingham UK

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Ok I think im in love with this inner arm sleeve on my client Ian, 3 full days and wow we got this result! Intense for sure but we got there! #medusa #medusatattoo #uktattooartists

Would you have a tattoo like this? taken in Dark Horse Collective by @tomstephensontattoo

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2 months ago

She’s healed — and she’s powerful.
This full geisha tattoo has settled beautifully, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Every detail tells a story

What stands out to you the most?
Would you wear a piece like this on your leg?

If this speaks to you, don’t just scroll — DM me and let’s bring your vision to life. 💥 by @tomstephensontattoo

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a year ago

Still struggling to get consistent saturation in your black & grey work?
Tired of pieces healing patchy, soft, or losing their impact?

You’re not alone — and it’s not your talent. It’s your process.

In my 1:1 Black & Grey Workshop, I break down my entire method step by step — from design process, machine setup and needle selection to hand speed, depth control, layering, and how I pack smooth gradients that heal strong and stay bold.

No gatekeeping. No vague tips. Just the exact system I use every day to create clean blends, solid saturation, and predictable, consistent healed results.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start tattooing with confidence, this is where it changes.

Limited 1:1 spots available. DM to book. taken in Dark Horse Collective by @tomstephensontattoo

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8 months ago

Ryan’s first big tattoo! 👀

Ryan recently found his faith and wanted a sleeve that reflected that, but also looked seriously cool!

He gave me the theme, trusted me with the rest, and this is where we’re at so far! Can’t wait to get this one finished! 🙌🏼

Swipe across for a closer look! 👉🏼

What do you think of the sleeve so far? Would you give your artist full creative freedom? taken in Birmingham, United Kingdom by @tomstephensontattoo

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3 days ago

COLLABORATION

@harristattooart @tomstephensontattoo @irinatattooer

This one is called ‘Soul Snatcher’

Had loads of fun creating this for our amazing client Liam, who flew all the way from Colorado, USA 🇺🇸 to get this over 2 days at the amazing @milanotatuami

Huge thanks to @bloodgabe for putting on a super show as usual 🤌🏻

Was our yearly @darkhorsecollective studio outing, big up to @gtharris_ for helping things run smooth and finding some great restaurants and to @samwalkertattoos for his dark horse convention debut 😆

#milantattoo #milantattooartist #tattoomilan #abstracttattoo by @tomstephensontattoo

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6 days ago

3 YEARS LATER… and Owen’s back to finish what we started! 🙌🏼

After three years away, Owen came back to continue his outer arm, and this time he wanted to add a Hannya mask!

Two great days in the studio, plenty of catching up, and a finished piece I’m seriously happy with!

One of my favourite things about this job is having clients return years later, trusting me to add to the work we started together. Always a pleasure mate, thanks again for the trust! 👊🏼

Got an unfinished tattoo you’ve been meaning to come back to? Or maybe you’ve been thinking about starting something completely new?

Whether it’s been three months, three years, or you’re booking your very first tattoo, I’d love to hear your ideas!

Drop me a DM and let’s get something planned! 🔥 taken in Birmingham, United Kingdom by @tomstephensontattoo

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8 days ago

Completely healed, settled into the skin, and looking even better with time! 🙌🏼

This was easily one of the most challenging pieces I’ve worked on. The amount of detail in the church architecture was insane, but seeing how well it’s all healed makes it worth it!

I’ve always believed that bigger tattoos make the biggest impact. Giving a design the space it deserves allows all those details to really come to life.

Now I’m curious… would you commit to a full leg sleeve like this, or is that a bit too much for you? 👀

Let me know below! 👇🏼 taken in Birmingham, United Kingdom by @tomstephensontattoo

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9 days ago

Love seeing clients come back with their tattoos looking this good! 🙌🏼

Fully healed, hairy and even caught a bit of a tan! 😂☀️

This is exactly what I want to see. A tattoo that looks just as good once it’s settled into the skin as it did on the day it was finished.

Massive thanks to Connor for looking after it so well! 👊🏼

A great tattoo should look good for years, not just for the Instagram photo.

Thinking about your next piece? Drop me a DM and let’s get something planned! 👌🏼 taken in Birmingham, United Kingdom by @tomstephensontattoo

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10 days ago

Tom posted this design as a wanna-do! Dan snapped it up and absolutely loved how it turned out

What do you guys think about Tom‘s colour free rein projects?

Would you get one?

DM us or @tomstephensontattoo 📩

#colourtattoo #colourrealismtattoo #snaketattoo #masktattoo #tattoo taken in Birmingham, United Kingdom by @tomstephensontattoo

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13 days ago

TEN YEARS in the making… and we’re still adding to it. 👀

I first started tattooing my good friend James around 10 years ago, and over that time we’ve slowly built his leg into one complete project inspired by the Nine Muses of Ancient Greece.

This time, we had one huge space left running down the back of his leg.

Rather than trying to fill it with lots of smaller pieces, we went for one large image stretching almost the entire length of the leg — designed specifically for the space and to become part of the sleeve as a whole.

And this is the result. 🔥

The best part? James gives me complete trust.

The idea, composition, sizing, placement — he lets me work out what I think will look strongest on his body.

After tattooing him for a decade, that level of trust is something I really appreciate.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a sleeve, leg sleeve or larger project but don’t know exactly what you want or how it should all fit together, you don’t need to have every detail figured out.

Bring me the ideas and subjects you love, and we can build the rest around you.

My diary is currently open.

DM me “PROJECT” and tell me what you’ve been thinking about. 👌🏼 taken in Birmingham, United Kingdom by @tomstephensontattoo

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a month ago

Sometimes the best tattoos happen when you stop trying to plan every detail.

For this sleeve, my client simply gave me the Greek mythology characters he wanted included — and trusted me with everything else.

The design, placement, sizing and how each piece flows into the next was completely up to me.

Pegasus now finishes off the inner section of the sleeve, designed specifically around his arm and to work as part of the bigger picture rather than just another individual tattoo.

If you’ve got an idea for a sleeve but you’re not sure how to bring it all together, you don’t need to have every detail figured out before you enquire.

Tell me the subjects or ideas you’d love to include and we can build the rest around you.

What Greek mythology character would you have in your sleeve? 👇

My diary is currently open — DM me to enquire about starting your project. by @tomstephensontattoo

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a month ago

Watching this one come together 🔥

We’re getting close to completing this full outer-leg project, and I love how the whole piece is starting to flow together.

Still a little more to go…

Would you commit to a full leg piece like this?

The newest part of the project.

This section still isn’t completely finished, but the main focal points are now in and it’s already completely changed the look of the leg.

I can’t wait to bring the final details together.

Which part catches your eye first? 👀

And this is why I love showing healed work.

We completed this lower section back in April, so what you’re seeing here is the tattoo fully healed and settled into the skin — exactly how a tattoo is actually going to be worn.

Really pleased with how this has held its colour and impact.

Would you go colour or black & grey for your next tattoo? taken in Dark Horse Collective by @tomstephensontattoo

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a month ago