How to Choose a Tattoo Design: A Beginner's Guide from a Hull Tattoo Artist

Not sure what tattoo to get? You're not alone. Here's a straightforward guide to help you find a design you'll love forever, from a blackwork tattoo artist based in Hull, East Yorkshire.

Choosing a tattoo is one of the most exciting decisions you'll make, and one of the most permanent. Whether it's your first tattoo or your tenth, the process of finding the right design can feel overwhelming.

The good news? There's no rush, and there's no wrong answer. Here's how to approach it.

1. Start With What You're Drawn To

Before you think about placement, size, or budget, just think about what you love. Scroll back through things that have always appealed to you visually. That might be:

• Nature - botanicals, moths, moons, animals, the night sky

• Dark or gothic imagery - skulls, roses, architecture, occult symbols

• Geometric and abstract - bold shapes, patterns, linework

• Pop culture - bands, films, games, characters that mean something to you

• Personal symbols - dates, initials, objects tied to memories or people

There's no hierarchy here. A tattoo doesn't have to be deeply meaningful to be worth getting, sometimes a design is just cool, and that's enough.

2. Think About the Style

Tattoo styles vary enormously, and finding one that resonates with you will help narrow things down significantly. Amour Tattoo in Hull specialises in blackwork and gothic tattooing, here's what that means in practice:

• Blackwork - Bold, graphic designs in black ink only. Clean lines, strong contrast, and designs that age incredibly well

• Fine line blackwork - Delicate, intricate detail work using very thin lines, great for florals, portraits, and illustrative pieces

• Gothic and dark art - Imagery rooted in the macabre, the mysterious, and the alternative: skulls, bats, coffins, horror references, dark florals

• Illustrative - Designs that feel like they've come straight off a page: detailed, expressive, and often with a handcrafted quality

If you're unsure whether a style suits you, the best thing to do is look through an artist's portfolio. Every tattoo in there was once just an idea someone brought to them.

3. Consider Flash Tattoos

If you're still figuring out what you want, or you want something beautiful without the pressure of coming up with a concept from scratch, flash tattoos are the perfect solution.

Flash are pre-drawn designs created by the artist, ready to tattoo. They're not generic Pinterest art, they're original artwork that reflects the artist's style and vision. Choosing a flash design means:

• No lengthy design process - The artwork is already done

• Lower cost - Flash is typically priced lower than fully custom work

• Faster booking - Many flash pieces can be done as walk-ins or short-notice appointments

• Guaranteed quality - The artist has already designed something they're proud of

Amour Tattoo's, new flash designs drop regularly on Instagram. If something catches your eye, don't wait, popular flash pieces get claimed quickly.

4. Think About Placement Early

Where a tattoo sits on your body affects everything, the size, the shape, the level of detail that's possible, and how it'll look as it ages. Some things to keep in mind:

• Visibility - Do you want it visible day-to-day, or somewhere you can cover it for work?

• Shape of the area - Curved areas like ribs or ankles work beautifully with certain shapes; flat areas like the upper arm or thigh give more flexibility

• Pain levels - Bony areas (ribs, feet, spine) tend to hurt more than fleshier areas (outer arm, thigh, calf)

• Ageing - Areas that stretch or get a lot of sun exposure (hands, necks, feet) can fade faster

A good tattoo artist will always advise on the best placement for a specific design, don't be afraid to ask.

5. Bring References, Not a Final Brief

One of the most useful things you can do before a getting in touch is collect reference images, but they don't need to be tattoos. Send:

• Tattoos you like the look of (even if the subject matter is different)

• Illustrations, drawings, or artwork in a style you love

• Photos of objects, textures, or imagery you want incorporated

• Examples of placements you like

You're not asking the artist to copy anything, you're giving them a mood board to work from. The more context you give, the better the design will be.

6. Trust Your Artist

This one matters more than people realise. A great tattoo artist isn't just someone who can execute a design — they're someone who can take your idea and make it better. They know what works at a given size, what will hold up over time, and what will suit your skin and placement.

If you're considering Amour Tattoo in Hull, you can browse the full portfolio at https://www.amourtattoo.co.uk/portfolio to get a feel for the style. If it resonates with you, that's a good sign.

Ready to Book?

Whether you've got a fully formed idea or you're starting from scratch, Amour Tattoo offers both custom designs and flash walk-in slots for clients across Hull, Beverley, Hessle, Anlaby, Cottingham, and East Yorkshire.

• 📍 Seventy Two Street Tattoo, Hull

• 📸 @amourtattoo - follow for new flash drops

• 🌐 Book online at https://www.amourtattoo.co.uk/booking

Got a question before you commit? Send a DM or use the contact form - there's no pressure and no silly questions.

Amour Tattoo is a blackwork and gothic tattoo artist based in Hull, East Yorkshire, offering custom tattoos and flash walk-ins. Serving clients from across the region including Beverley, Hessle, Cottingham, and beyond.