# Custom Blackwork Design

Bold Blackwork Tattoos With Strong Contrast

I create carefully composed blackwork designs that bring clarity, depth, and lasting visual impact to your skin.

A focused blackwork session built around a design made specifically for you.
A More Personal Way to Wear Bold Ink
I begin by developing the visual direction of your tattoo around your idea, preferred style, and placement. Strong shapes, contrast, and negative space are considered together so the design reads clearly and feels intentional.
During the appointment, I work carefully through the composition and tattoo it with a steady, precise approach. The experience is personal and collaborative, with attention given to how the piece sits on your body and how it will age over time.
Ideal For
Bold graphic tattoo ideasCustom pieces with strong contrastClients considering larger compositionsThoughtful placement planning
How It Works
Share Your Idea: Tell me about your concept, references, placement, and preferred scale.Refine The Composition: I shape the design around your body and the visual balance of the piece.Tattoo The Piece: We move through the session with a clear plan and careful attention to detail.

- Custom tattoo session

## About

I am Conor Metcalf, a Southampton tattoo artist specialising in black and grey realism and blackwork. I create considered tattoos shaped around each client's ideas, from detailed portraits and animals to bold sleeves, cover-ups, and striking standalone pieces. My approach combines close attention to detail with a collaborative process, helping each person turn a meaningful concept into a tattoo that feels personal, balanced, and built to last.

## Services

- [Black and Grey Realism](https://gentootattoo.com/services/black-grey-realism-tattoos.md): I create detailed black and grey realism tattoos, from portraits and animals to themed custom pieces.
- [Sleeve Projects](https://gentootattoo.com/services/custom-sleeve-tattoo.md): I build cohesive arm and leg sleeves through planned sessions, including work in progress and finishing sessions.
- [Cover-Up Tattoos](https://gentootattoo.com/services/cover-up-tattoos.md): I create custom cover-ups that work with the existing tattoo and suit the new design.

## FAQ

### How do I choose the right tattoo design?

A professional tattoo artist can help you develop an idea that reflects your preferences while considering composition, placement, scale, and how the design will translate onto skin. Bringing reference images and discussing what you like or want to avoid can make the creative process clearer.

### What should I consider when choosing a tattoo placement?

Placement can affect the appearance, movement, and long-term presentation of a tattoo. A professional can talk through how the design works with the body's shape and help you choose an area that suits your vision.

### Can a tattoo be adapted to suit my skin and body?

Yes, tattoo designs are often adjusted to work naturally with individual skin, contours, and proportions. A professional artist can refine details, spacing, contrast, and flow so the artwork feels considered rather than simply transferred onto the body.

### What is involved in creating a larger tattoo or sleeve?

Larger pieces are usually approached as a connected composition, with attention to flow, balance, and how each section relates to the next. Discussing the overall direction with a professional helps create artwork that feels cohesive as it develops.

### How should I care for a new tattoo?

A professional tattoo artist will explain suitable aftercare to help protect the tattoo while the skin settles and heals. Following those instructions carefully, keeping the area clean, and avoiding unnecessary irritation can support the best possible result.

## Contact

- Address: Southampton, UK