louis santos | Louis Santos Tattoo

Colour Realism Tattoos

By louis santos 22nd May 2026 6th June 2026 Realistic Colour Tattoo

Colour Realism Tattoos

In this post I would like to focus on colour realism Tattoos, so I’m not going to focus on just one tattoo, instead, I’m going to explore colour realism tattoos I have been doing in Manchester lately, and showing some past work as well, and bringing back some old memories.

My passion for colour realism started in the beginning of my career, meeting Mike de Vries, at Tattoo Jam 2009, I’m sharing the picture I took with Mike de Vries at Tattoo Jam, on that day I bought his book,” lets be realistic” I still have his book signed by him.

I will never forget the moment I opened Total Tattoo magazine around 2007-2008 and saw Mike de Vries work, he was the first Tattoo Artist to transform hyper realistic images into Tattoos, and one of the reasons why I went to Tattoo Jam 2009 was because I wanted to meet and watch Mike de Vries Tattooing.

When you are the first artist to create a new way of art or tattooing, is very impactful and you end up being a catalyst to a certain tattoo style or art style. Myke de Vries is definitely the catalyst of Realism in Tattooing. Realism is a style where you have to make an image believable to the eye to be realistic, and also consider longevity. Considering longevity is adding contrast to the image, however, when approaching a realistic tattoo, the realism part of it is very subtle, so even in the subtle areas, the Tattoo Artist has to find a way to contrast the subtle areas in order to achieve longevity.

In this post I’m sharing an important moment when I met Mike de Vries, and I’m also sharing videos of realistic tattoos I have been doing lately. One of the realistic colour tattoos I have been doing in Manchester, has been a cover-up tattoo.

When approaching a realistic tattoo in a cover-up, planning is really important, the planning is imperative in order to make sure the darks and lights are balanced equally. Having a equal quantity of darks and lights in a tattoo, 50 per cent light and 50 per cent dark, is a beautiful balance, and a rule that works in every tattoo, even when is not a cover-up tattoo.

Planning a tattoo darks and light can take a bit of the Tattoo Artist’s time, but it makes a difference in the outcome of the tattoo, as when a Tattoo Artist is in the middle of a Tattoo, doing more darks than lights, or less darks than lights is very easy to not get the balance right, or close to what it should be.

To do Colour Realism in Tattooing, I use Dermaglo Tattoo Colours. Its an amazing Tattoo pigment, and the best Tattoo colours I have ever came across. I will do a separated post about Dermaglo Tattoo colours.

Realistic Tattoos Manchester

Persian Black and Grey Tattoo

By louis santos 12th May 2026 6th June 2026 Tattoo shops in Bury

Persian Soldier Tattoo

Black and Grey Tattoo

Directly inspired by the Persian Immortals, the 10,000- strong elite warrior guard of the Achaemenid Empire. Their number never dipped below 10,000. If any of them were killed they were immediately replaced by a trained prepared soldier from the reserve unit.

I always enjoy tattooing Gary, he’s half Iranian, that’s where the idea of a Persian soldier comes from. He initially came in for a consultation explaining everything how he wanted, our consultation is always enjoyable, we talk not only about tattoos, but we also have the same interests in Sports, he’s a big Bury FC fan, so we always end up talking about football.

The space Gary showed me on his arm was a Rectangle, so I had the idea of finding a Persian soldier stood up holding a spear. As soon as he saw the image he was so happy, and willing to go ahead with it.

Gary has all his tattoos in black and grey, black and grey is a style love doing, and I try to add realism to the black and grey tattoo I’m working on. Gary has multiple tattoos on his arm, but now he’s looking to join them all in, I’m glad he can see that, he’s willing to work on it, and I’m more than happy to help, as I do like working with Gary. He has overall a very positive attitude, and that really makes a difference, and it adds positivity to the Tattoo session.

Researching for the Tattoo Artist you want to collect their style on your body for life, it really adds positive energy when you are sure about who you want to get tattooed by, and it gives confidence to the tattoo artist. Not being sure if a Tattoo Artist can do a good tattoo or not, only adds confusion, therefore, your tattoo will be affected. So a lot of faith in your Tattoo Artist’s work, it really helps.

This black and grey tattoo took 2 sessions, of 3 hour each. Gary prefers to do 3 hour sessions, he’s not the guy to do full days, and I’m totally cool with that, our sessions are enough but it doesn’t drag along all day. I think the best way is to work around your clients situation, and work around their needs.

Thank you Gary

Tattoo Shop in Bury

By louis santos 8th May 2026 6th June 2026 Tattoo shops in Bury

Hi Everyone, Thanks for making the time to visit my website. I remember almost 5 years ago, when Covid kicked in, and I was in lockdown in my flat in Leeds, that was the first time I had time to stop, and think about my life long term, and the more I thought of it, the more I realised, I wanted to move back to Manchester, for long term, my Mum was here, its here where everything started. The more I wanted to move back, the more I used to think, how I’m I going to do it? I was tattooing in Leeds for 13 years, and I had built my life and business around all that time. Things kept happening to me in Leeds, things I will never mention online, but everything had to happen in order to open the doors for me to come back to Manchester. So here I’m, after 5 years, of taking risks, leaving everything behind, to start again from scratch. I remember, being sat with my Mum, outside The Village Hotel in Manchester, letting her know for the first time that I wanted to move back to Manchester, and she looked at me with a surprising and happy eyes, but I remember thinking, how is it going to happen? It seemed something so difficult to do, but I did it. Sometimes I look back at when I wanted to move back, and I look at where I’m now, its almost surreal that I managed to do it. I would like to thank everyone who motivated me to move back to Leeds, including people I have worked with, thank you so much. I have transformed every experience I had in Leeds in to something positive which it was, moving back to Manchester.

In 2006, I had started tattooing in Bury Greater Manchester, and it was in Bury College where I learned English, so Bury has a special place for me, as its where I started my life in the UK, and where I had my first experiences living in the UK.

So in this blog I would like to talk about the beginning of tattoo shops in Bury, and how its nowadays. I can talk about it, because even knowing I started in 2006, I have worked with Tattoo Artists who have been tattooing in Bury for so long.

Tattoo Shops in Bury

The first Tattooist in Bury his name is Dave Heap. Dave is now retired, and still lives in Lancashire. Dave’s tattoo style is very traditional, and I think that’s great. A lot of young Tattooists do traditional Tattoos, but Dave is from the times where the traditional tattoos were made. I have Dave on my Facebook, and sometimes we speak on messenger, and one of the things Dave mentioned, that stood out to me the most, was when he said “ I had Bury to myself for almost 30 years” That shows you how long he had been tattooing. I’m sure Dave has some amazing stories to tell about tattooing from back in the day in Lancashire Bury, which now is classed as greater Manchester.

After Bury’s first Tattoo Studio opened with Dave, the next tattoo shop in Bury that open it’s doors in the 90’s was Mad House Tattoo on the Rock. I believe that Tattoo studio was also opened by someone called Dave, who later started working with other artist’s in the tattoo shop in Bury.

Sween, who now owns Odin’s Eye Tattoo, used to get tattooed at Mad House, back in the 90’s.

The Tattooists who used to work at mad house, end up going to work at Rochdale Road, then for years, until the early 2000’s, there was only 2 Tattoo shops in Bury. I believe, mad house was closed down for a bit, and re-opened by a Tattoo Artist called Shaun. I remember Shan, as he was on the rock when I started my apprenticeship in Bury.

When I left Bury in 2009, there was only 2 Tattoo Studio in Bury. Coming back after nearly 13 years, the number of Tattoo shops have doubled. Theres a lot of more Tattoo shops in Bury nowadays, a lot of better work is being done from when I used to tattoo in Bury.

If I was not a Tattoo Artist, or even if I was still Tattooing in Leeds, and if someone asked me for recommendation to where to get tattooed in the best tattoo shop in Bury, I would recommend Odin’s Eye Tattoo Collective, even if I was not working there.

The reason why is because Sween, Left Hand Tony and Louis Santos all specialise in different styles, and the clients are the ones who win at the end. As the clients are waling out with the best work possible. They have the best variety in tattoo style any Tattoo shop in Bury can offer. Its quiet rare to see that in a tattoo studio.They make the dream team, which is hard to form and build. I have worked with many artist’s in the past and never before I felt like something has clicked so well as a team, and I believe, that clients can feel the love energy when the enter the studio, as its important for the client to feel a good vibe when coming in the tattoo shop in Bury.

Thank you for reading

Louis Santos Tattoo

Mythology & Fantasy Tattoos

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Realism Tattoos

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Goat Tattoo

By louis santos 5th May 2026 6th June 2026 Tattoo shops in Bury

Thank you for reading my blog, i have been back in Manchester for 2 years now, and im so happy to have come back, and i feel like im starting to get settled. Im forever grateful for my new clients in Mancheter and some of my Leeds clients who still come to see me. I have been meeting some really interesting people, and when i get to meet interesting clients, and they pick a good design, i think its time to write a blog on my websitre.

Realistic Goat Tattoo

I have previously tattooed Josh, so I was really happy to see him back in the studio. I had previously tattooed a philosopher with a philosophy message on Josh’s arm, his tattoo was previously posted on this website.

First time meeting a client, there’s a lot of explaining to be made about how I work and how I prefer to approach their tattoo. Josh was very understanding and easy going, which if put me at ease and it contributed to a better tattoo outcome.

So when he messaged me again, I was happy to have him back as not only the first tattoo had gone well, but he has a really positive energy about him, I feed off his good vibe and that contributes to the positive tattoo outcome.

Having a consultation with Josh, he requested a small black and grey goat tattoo, I love tattooing and drawing goats, as they are spiritual animals, and they have a spiritual positive meaning. They represent wealth and prosperity. Josh mentioned he wanted a graphic flower bellow the goat, so I had the idea to line it. Lining something next to a realistic image it looks really nice.

I give a lot of attention to small realistic black and grey tattoos. Of course the smaller the tattoo the bigger the challenge. Specially if you are trying to do realism. However, the more you draw as an artist, the better you can deal with smaller black and grey realism tattoos.

I booked Josh in for a Sunday in our Bury Tattoo Studio, and we had a nice and relaxing day, the tattoo studi in Bury is closed on Sundays, so it was really quiet. Of course I do love when the studio is open and the socialising part of it, we love the interaction with the clients in the studio, as it’s a busy studio. However, having a day where it’s just you and the client is quite different, and I think I picked the right person to spend the Sunday with.

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Goat Tattoo

Small Black and Grey Goat Tattoo

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Realism Portrait Tattoo Artist

By louis santos 3rd May 2026 4th May 2026 Realism Portrait Tattoo Artist

I have been working on this Realism portrait painting for a while, I had this idea to incorporate Pep Guardiola’s master mind in football to this painting.

First I found an image that would fit and feel right about the idea I had, of incorporating the football inside his brain.

Pep Guardiola’s ability to read the game and adapt to it, it’s an ability and intelligence that many other football managers try to copy and learn from, I could almost say that the Premier league is based on his ideas, his perception, he moves the game as everyone is watching what he’s doing.

Pep Guardiola has changed football, by the way he sees the games, and guides his players to behave on the pitch. A lot of people say the game changed because of him, and it still does.

After the Manchester City team enters the stadium he stays inside thinking about his tactics, being a football manager is almost like being a chess player and that’s what Pep Guardiola is, he’s a master of chess.

Talking about chess, I’m thinking I could added some chess pieces to this painting, it would really gone well with Pep Guardiola’s philosophy. But that ideas has to happen next time I do a portrait of him.

When approaching a large Realism Colour Portrait, i learn a lot about how to use my colours and enhance my understanding of how to use colours as a shadow and highlights, this learning process is really important when dealing with a realistic portrait tattoo. Painting a realistic portrait in my free time, it can only benefit my next opportunity I will have to tattoo a realistic portrait tattoo, and I do that with a lot of pleasure, as I love painting realism images, which I can have fun with, and it gives me the opportunity to practise in order to deliver a better looking tattoo as possible.

Thanks for reading my tattoo blog, I have been working on other drawings, painting and tattoos, and I will keep you guys posted, thank you.

Realism Portrait Tattoo Artist

Bury Tattoo Studio

Realistic Rose Tattoo Manchester

By louis santos 22nd April 2026 22nd April 2026 realism tattoo

Realistic Cover-up Tattoo

In this blog I would like to talk about one of the last projects I have been working on. I had previously tattooed Amanda, if you have been following my previous work, I have done a full sleeve of butterflies with cherry blossoms, if you remember that tattoo, that was Amanda’s arm, so we had previously worked together, and because she had been through the previous process, as she understood the process, and that when we have faith, we always get there.

This cover-up realistic rose tattoo took around 2 sessions, by the end of the first session, we had a taste of what was going to look like, however, when clients understood the tattoo process it really helps, they understand that cover-up realistic tattoos sometimes it can take multiple sessions. And every session your tattoo will transform, so having faith in the process is very important.

When I get requested a cover-up tattoo, I have to see if it’s worth taking on the job, as cover-ups can be difficult depending how dark the tattoo is, and what the client chooses as a design to work as a cover up.

Images with textures, it really helps with cover-ups, like leaves, scales, dragon scales, armour, nature. Anything with texture is a really good way to achieve a successful realistic cover-up tattoo.

So in the second session I had the opportunity to have another pass in the healed tattoo. Working with a healed tattoo is like working with a dry paint, you get the opportunity not only to add layers, but to work in a different perception of the tattoo, working with a fresh mind, it can really make the tattoo look better, than if you only spend one day looking at it.

One of the best feelings you can have as an artist, is when someone understands what you do, chooses you as an artist, you give the best you can, and they understand how you work a bit more, and after their first experience the trusts increases, and that has a huge difference in an artists mind set, to work with a peace of mind, which it will contribute to the artist doing a better piece of art.

Doing good art, it requires inner peace, so try to give that to your artist when you get tattooed, and I guarantee you will collect a better tattoo from the artist of your choice.

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Mythology Tattoos in Manchester

By louis santos 17th April 2026 22nd April 2026 Mythology Tattoos

This is another mythology drawing I have worked on a while ago. The video will be in the bottom of this article, so if you want to give it a check before reading the post you welcome. It’s worth still going back to it, as I did spend quite a bit of time on it, with pleasure. However it’s a drawing where I can show the mythology style I’m enjoying working on at the moment.

In this drawing I had the idea of mixing Egyptian mythology with Buddhism. I do love Egyptian mythology and Buddhism religion. In the middle of the drawing I went with an Egyptian god, as it’s like he was inwards and the other 2 Buddhas emerging on the outside.

I love tattooing acient Egypt Mythology and Buddha Tattoos.

I love how Buddhism is about the now, live in the now, and find peace in the now, the now is all we have. And ancient Egyptian mythology was about spirituality, Egyptians I believe were probably the most spiritual civilisation ever lived before. They understood and worshiped the afterlife, they understood that the after life, and our reality, is not as separated as we perceive. Egyptians used to mummify the dead bodies in order to give the souls the opportunity to go back to their body and almost be in touch with the physical world.

Doing this drawing for me also was about learning textures. It’s important to draw an idea, and practise in a paper before attempting the skin, there are certain things that you can only learn if you draw. So drawing for me is a study, I would never attempt to draw anything unless I’m learning from the drawing I’m doing, so everything I do is with purpose and direction, with the intention to learn to better the outcome of my tattoos.

Thanks for reading

Manchestertattooartist.com

Medusa Mythology Manchester

Mythology Tattoo Artist Manchester

By louis santos 12th April 2026 17th April 2026 Mythology Tattoos

Mythology Tattoo Artist

Mythology in Tattoos is a style that has been speaking to me lately. I must admit I do have a little battle inside of me, about what type of style to stick with, as I do like and enjoy doing different styles of drawing and tattooing, lately Mythology have been speaking to me in other ways rather than tattooing, so in this blog I would like to go deep into my journey with mythology, and why I feel like that’s the style I’m going to specialise at.

With the advance of tattooing needles, artist can now put on skin a collection of traditional stories, myths, behind mythology images, there’s cultural beliefs featuring gods and goddesses philosophy.

I love to add my own input or twist when approaching a Mythology drawing, I enjoy drawing mythology images, however, the part where I most have fun is when I allow myself to be creative with the textures.

Adding texture to mythology images and feeling free to see where it develops, it feels adventurous. I’m not shy to admit that I’m a fan of Victor Portugal’s work, and I do study his work, and bring those studies to my Mythology drawings. In 2019, one of my dreams came true, which it was getting tattooed by Victor Portugal. I travelled to Poland where his studio is, it was an amazing experience getting tattooed by my favourite Tattoo Artist, and I will be coming back for more in the near future.

Another way that mythology has been speaking to me, and making me assertive of that’s the style I should focus on, was by the writer and intellectual teacher Joseph Campbell.

I was aware of Joseph Campbell in the past, and the reason why was because I saw one of his videos speaking about Eternity. If you go online and search “Joseph Campbell about eternity” you will find a video of him explaining that we are living eternity right now, and the only reason why we don’t feel it or are aware of it, is because we think and we are living with the concept of time.

Joseph Campbell has published many books about Mythology. I have one which I will share the image with you guys in this blog. Joseph Campbell has passed away in the early 80’s but his legacy lives on, he dedicated his whole life to studying Mythology from cultures around the world. What I have gathered so far about my personal journey with Joseph Campbell, is that mythology is more than just a myth, it speaks to us a humans, and it represents our own inner belief system of who we think we are. We are living our own myth day by day of who we think or believe we are.

Joseph Campbell was also very spiritual, and a fan of percussion. There’s a video of him on YouTube where he speaks about eternity. I can really resonate with that video, I will try to post this video on this blog, or if you want to check it out, you can search “Joseph Campbell about Eternity” he explain that we are living eternity right here and now, our thinking and our time, is what cuts out our experience of eternity.

In our life journey, sometimes the universe takes us to the path we are meant to experience, is just calm down and pay attention to what’s presented to you, everything starts to make sense of the direction you should be taking.

Thank you

Joseph Campbell about Eternity

Realism Portrait of David Beckham

By louis santos 31st March 2026 31st March 2026 Portrait Tattoo Artist

David Beckham Realism Portrait

In this blog I would like to talk about what I have been up to lately, which it was varnishing my David Beckham realism portrait oil paint.

I follow an artist online and he painted a portrait of Notorious BIG, the rapper. And the oil paint he made it look like Biggie was living nowadays. The artist managed to add realism to an old image of Biggie taken in the 90’s. Portrait images of the 90’s are not very clear as the cameras back in the 90’s were not what it’s today. So when I saw that realism oil paint portrait of Notorious BIG, I was blown away, and I bought a realism portrait oil paint course, from the artist online.

In the middle of the online course, I was learning a few good tips on how to approach a realism portrait, oil paint in large scale. So my question was, who should I paint in my first large portrait oil paint project?

When I was wondering who should I paint, a documentary came out on Netflix of David Beckham, as a football fan, I thought it would be interesting to watch it. I started watching it, and I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed it, of course I was aware of him, however I did not know how good of a footballer he was, maybe because when he played, it was around the same time as the Brazil golden era, 98-2006, so I was too busy following Brazil. But watching the documentary about David Beckham, it really opened my eyes about what he went through in his career, and to be honest I didn’t know how good he was.

That’s what love about documentaries, it shows a lot of facts you were unaware of, and it brings a whole new dimension to a subject.

Let’s not forget to mention something a lot of Tattoo Artists do no recognise or remember, David Beckham was the catalyst in British Tattoo industry, when he started getting tattooed I started my apprenticeship, and I was aware how busier all studios in the UK became including the one I was apprenticing at. It was almost like, after David Beckham got tattooed, people thought, it’s ok to get tattooed, which it was very good for the tattoo industry.

When I began tattooing, I remember getting a lot of requests in the studio, to tattoo the guardian angel David Beckham got tattooed on his back by Louis Malloy. It was such an iconic design, so that design was important to me in the beggining of my career. As I learned to tattoo, tattooing that guardian angel.

David Beckham is the catalyst in the UK Tattoo Industry

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Greek Mythology Tattoo

By louis santos 22nd March 2026 22nd March 2026 Greek Mythology Tattoo

Hi Everyone, in this post I would like to talk about one of my favourite tattoos I have been doing lately. I love Greek Mythology related Tattoos, so I was really excited about working with Kate’s Request.

Kate had previously visited the studio for a Greek female god tattoo of Persephone, and this time she wanted to get her other leg done, with the husband of Persephone “Hades”

Hades is a Greek god of the underworld world, the dead and the hidden wealth. As a brother of Zeus and Poseidon, he holds dominion over the souls of the dead. Along with his Queen.

Katie is really in to Greek Mythology and I feel like getting Hades tattooed was a completion to her previous request. I love when clients are organised, plan the tattoo well, plan a consultation, plan an appointment and get something that they really want by an artist that they really love, that’s the best way to get tattooed. Travel wherever you have to, save up to get something you want by an artist who you love their work.

I really enjoy tattooing Kate, she’s really in to reading, so when she comes in we talk about books we have been reading. I enjoy talking to people who read, the conversation can go a lot further and the possibility of learning is a lot higher.

Greek mythology is done a lot in Manchester nowadays, that’s when I try to bring and enhance my style based on what I learn when I draw. Drawing allows me to learn new ways to work with, to enhance the way the tattoo will look, adding textures and studying how the shadow falls in the subject is still important to me.

Thank you Katie, for the great experience you have gave me, and you are always welcome in the studio.