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If you are already planning for a trip and loads of souvenirs, let it be Vancouver and be ready for a permanent one. This is because Vancouver is home to one of the most talented tattoo artists in the world and who are worth traveling all the miles. No matter what your style is, Vancouver has artists that can handle it all: right from traditional American to contemporary tattoos to blow up your mind with their unique works. If you are already planning to get a tattoo then make it worth it, right?

If you are convinced enough but do not know where to start, this list of top 10 tattoo artists and tattoo shops in Vancouver would be a better option for you. Because it is not just making a design which must be perfect but also the right kind of person to bring it to life. Take a look at our top picks that you will want to show off.

1. Alan- Columbia Tattoo & Piercing

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Columbia Tattoo & Piercing is one of the well-known tattoo studios in Vancouver but why you ask? Well, it takes pride in being one of the cleanest tattoo studios in Canada. Besides, this tattoo shop is opened all days of the week. They also welcome walk-ins but you can book an appointment to be on the safer side. The company’s official website has a list of all the artists with their free slots along with other important information. They also provide some really amazing piercing services which begin at $30.

Columbia Tattoo & Piercing is a sophistry and clean studio and they do not use the same needles twice. The artist at Columbia Tattoo & Piercing is all licensed and practice their art precisely. They are also Bloof Borne Pathogens certified and take the safety of the clients seriously. In the words of the owner, ” We strive to provide the best customer service around and look forward to the opportunity to turn your ideas into body art that you can be proud of.”

Shop Name: Columbia Tattoo & Piercing
Address: Columbia Tattoo & Piercing, 8300 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98664, United States
Contact: +1 360-699-3464
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Columbia Tattoo & Piercing
Yelp: Columbia Tattoo & Piercing
Website: uptats.com
Timings: Monday- Thursday 12 PM- 8 PM; Friday and Saturday: 12 PM – 12 AM; Sunday: 12 PM- 8 PM

Location on Google Maps:

2. Sumer Mattison, Tamding Tsetan- Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing

Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing is a tattoo studio that offers both tattoo and piercing services to its clients. It was opened in 1996 in Vancouver and each artist’s work is available on their portfolio online every since. The artist has made it their agenda to provide a clean and comfortable atmosphere to the clients. They can be contacted by going to their contacts section on their website.

For the tattoo artists at Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing the placement and design is of extreme importance. This is why the people at the tattoo studio want their customers to be extremely present during the whole process of getting inked. They specialize in various kinds of forms but excel in things like customized artworks which they suit according to their wearer’s interests.

The Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing is also certified and licensed by OSHA. Besides this, the artists in Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing have won many awards and acclamations and have had honorable mentions in various tattoo magazines all over the world. Although they entertain walk-ins they prefer that you can them before making an appointment. The piercers are only available from Friday till Saturday.

Summer is a great tattoo artist at Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing and started thinking about being a tattoo artist when she was just 12 years old. She made her first tattoo when she was just 16 and wanted to open her own tattoo studio which looked more like an art gallery.

In the words of Summer herself, explaining her whole journey into opening this tattoo studio, she says,

I wanted it to be different than the rest. Only having original artwork and custom creations with client involvement. So I began my journey, I dove in and opened my first tattoo studio in Vancouver in 1996. And so many changes have happened along the way. I feel so lucky to be involved with this industry most of my life. It’s been such a huge part of me. I also love to share my space with other amazing like-minded artists. Who also share the same goals and creative enthusiasm as myself. It’s just awesome to know we touch so many lives with decorations of permanent art on the body.

Tamding Tsetan was born in Tibet and spent his childhood leading a life of nomads. He did not attend school because he couldn’t afford to do so. However,r this is what lead him towards art and craft and he dreamt about being an artist someday. Thus he made a strong and bold decision to leave Tibet and walked for 43 days in 2002 and traveled across the Himalayan mountains. He managed to learn a new language and even got some informal training and education in music, art and specialized in classic Tibetan art form.

He started tattooing professionally in 2006 in Dharamshala the home of Dalai Lama in the north of India. He moved to the USA in 2014 and has been inking ever since. He has also taught the traditional Tibetan art form to people who wanted to learn as he was the first Tibetan tattoo artist in the USA. He has also made a feature in Total Tattoo Magazine in the UK in 2012. His Tattoo art was chosen in a popular Tattoo magazine called “Taetowiermagazine” in Germany in 2012 too. He is also the proprietor of Tibetan Tattoo Ink which can be located on Facebook and Instagram.

Shop Name: Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing
Address: Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing, 5000 East, E 4th Plain Blvd Suite B103, Vancouver, WA 98661, United States
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Contact: +1 360-735-7745
Facebook: Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing
Instagram: @darkstartat2, @greg_labarbera, @toezua
Tumblr: Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing
LinkedIn: Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing
Pinterest: Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing
Yelp: Dark Star Tattoo & Body Piercing
Website: darkstar.ink, darkstartattoo.org, tibetantattoo.ink (Tamding Tsetan)
Timings: Monday- Sunday 12 PM- 6 PM

Location on Google Maps:

3. Forrest- Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing

Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing is a place in Vancouver best for permanent makeup, piercing services, and custom tattoos. Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing has two locations, one in Vancouver and the other in portland. Both these locations are opened 7 days a week. The artist at Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing goes through training courses no matter their experience in the tattoo. All the instructions and rules that they followed are mentioned on their official website too.

The two locations of Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing are one in Vancouver Mall and one in Lloyd Center for their client’s convenience. They have artists who have dual licenses to work in both Oregon and Washington. With such a huge talent and caliber at Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing, the clients would definitely find their needs met. In the words of the owner, “We are a family-friendly and judgmental-free place. All of our staff will try their very best to work with you to achieve satisfaction. We take the utmost pride and effort to maintain a professional and hospital-grade sanitary environment.”

They also make sure of cleanliness and security and only use the needles once. All their machines are also timely sterilized. They also have a wide variety of jewelry to select from. While they do accept walk-ins, they encourage their clients to make a prior appointment for this Brown benefit. They do make a $40 deposit when you make a booking to books a spot and only to entertain people who are serious about getting inked. This helps the artist to prep for your tattoo design before you visit.

Shop Name: Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing
Address: Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing, 8700 NE Vancouver Mall Dr. Ste 240, Vancouver, WA 98662, United States
Contact: +1 360-977-7747
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing
Instagram: @euphoriatattoos
LinkedIn: Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing
Yelp: Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing
Website: euphoria-piercing-tattoo.com
Timings: Monday- Saturday 10 AM- 9 PM; Sunday 11 AM- 6 PM

Location on Google Maps:

4. Travis Noble, Luisa Noble- Hopeless Ink Tattoo

Hopeless Ink Tattoo is a great tattoo studio in Vancouver, just 15 minutes from Vancouver. It is owned for business all days of the week and welcomes walk-in customers too. The artists at Hopeless Ink Tattoo have more than 50 years of combined experience. The prices of each tattoo artist and design might vary and the prices could be quoted only after consultation. They can be reached through the website in case you are looking o schedule an appointment. Their portfolios are also available for the customers to see.

Located right in the heart of Vancouver, Hopeless Ink Tattoo has an aim to give their customers the deepest of satisfaction and a relaxed atmosphere so that they can enjoy their tattoo experience. They want their customers to enjoy a very relaxed atmosphere and so they go beyond their ways to make the environment safe and sound.

They encourage their customers to have a proper meet-up before they decide on something so that they could be sure of their designs and what they themselves require. They don’t want their customers to settle for anything less.

Shop Name: Hopeless Ink Tattoo
Address: Hopeless Ink Tattoo, 2308 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98660, United States
Contact: +1 360-213-1818
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Hopeless Ink Tattoo
Instagram: @hopelesstattoo
Yelp: Hopeless Ink Tattoo
Website: hopelessink.com
Timings: Monday- Sunday 12 PM- 8 PM

Location on Google Maps:

5. Tatum- Local Boy Tatau

Local Boy Tatau provides all the services to their customers including piercings and tattoos removals too. They specialize in Polynesian tattoos. Their studio in Vancouver is opened all days of the week and they welcome both walk-ins and appointments. They however do take some advance to book your slot. The tattoo experts are also specialists in other kinds of designs like lettering and scripts, American traditional, neo-traditional, and colored and black and white realistic designs.

Tatum is a great tattoo artist in Local Boy Tatau and is responsible for a variety of styles in the studio that includes, Japanese, Polynesian, Floral, Script, Black and Grey, Fine line, Colorwork, and Ornamental.

Shop Name: Local Boy Tatau
Address: Local Boy Tatau, 601 Main St #100, Vancouver, WA 98660, United States
Contact: +1 360-843-0934
Email: [email protected],
Facebook: Local Boy Tatau
Instagram:@localboytataushop, @_dctattoos, @santiagogdon,@hnlbrian ,@heysus94
Website: localboytatau.com
Timings: Monday- Sunday 12 PM- 8 PM

Location on Google Maps:

6. Leif and Danielle- Lunatic Tattoo

Lunatic Tattoo is one of its kind tattoo studio in Vancouver that specializes in tattoo alterations. It is opened 7 days a week and the consultations are provided without a cost. However, they do ask for a certain amount of deposit to book your spot. The artists at Lunatic Tattoo have made an appearance in many tattoo magazines which includes the December 2005 issue of Tattoo Savage Magazine. The official website has all the important details of the studio.

Leif began piercing in Tucson, Arizona back in 1993 beneath Jay McPhillips at Enchanted Dragon Tattoo. Throughout that time, Jim Gallagher, Keely and Glen Tackett, Johnny Ray, as well as Kauri McPhillips were large impacts on Leif’s childhood in Tucson’s body modification community. After inking some of his friends and close ones, he wanted to explore the world and so joined Marine Corps. After 4 years of serving in the infantry and visiting parts of the world, he decided to follow his passion in the world of body modification which was tattoos and piercings. Making a few agreements with his old mate Jim Gallagher, proprietor of Midnight Dragon Tattoo in Saltcoats, Scotland, Leif jumped overseas to begin his tattoo apprenticeship under a positively trained tattoo artist.

Following strong education days under Jim’s side (with the aid of George Stevens of Ayrshire Tattoo!), Leif went back to the states to get incited on a career in the subdermal arts. Thus then in 2002, after much searching and determination, he eventually obtained a profession as a piercer/apprentice tattooist beneath Dave Peterson of Dave’s Unique Ink in Vancouver, USA. Operating jointly supporting Dave at DUI, as well as after diverse tattoo conventions later, along with the help of innumerable customers and companions to train on, he sharpened his tattoo skills until he was ready to start up his own tattoo studio, Lunatic Tattoo on 08 August 2008.

Leif has had his works published in the topmost tattoo magazines in the world and has been featured in the 2005 December Tattoo Savage issue. He also won many awards in local tattoo competitions and tattoo conventions too. During his first year at his own studio, he was joined by illustrious Danielle Alexander who has won several awards before. Her vision for the arts and her combined experience made her stand out in the tattoo industry.

No matter if it is a small tattoo or a huge one, the artist at Lunatic Tattoo is happy to do any kind of tattoo as long as it brings your idea of perfection to life in the form of a tattoo.

Danielle relocated to the pacific northwest in 2001 and began her tattoo apprenticeship at Sea Tramp tattoo company in Portland, Oregon in 2003. Under the bold leadership of Rio DeGennaro, she received her Oregon license in 2004. Soon afterward she began operating at Skin City in Tigard, Oregon. Nearby 2008 she made the move towards Lunatic where she has been successfully working since. Her most preferred kind of tattoo art lies in natural things. She loves to do animal portraits, landscapes, flowers, and pages. She loves to color in grey or black and loves to pay attention to details.

Shop Name: Lunatic Tattoo
Address: Lunatic Tattoo, the upper portion of the complex, attached to Subway, 5620 NE Gher Rd Ste – B, Vancouver, WA 98662, United States
Contact: +1 360-253-7169, 360.990.2159
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Facebook: Lunatic Tattoo
Instagram: @danielle_lunatictattoo, @lunatictattoo
Website:lunatictattoo.com
Timings: Monday- Sunday 10 AM- 6 PM

Location on Google Maps:

7. Art Godoy- Fun House Tattoo

Funhouse Tattoo has been one of the oldest tattoo studios in Vancouver. Art Godoy, the artist, and owner of Funhouse Tattoo have been a very huge role in influencing the world of tattoo in the Vancouver area. He also has input towards machine-building techniques. He has continued to push his limits ever since and which has made the Funhouse Tattoo studio one of its kind in Vancouver.

Art says that he has to had to keep up to a level so that he can maintain a brand. He loves to add details and give his clients the finest of the works. In his words, “My name is Art Godoy, I started this shop in 1998 here in Vancouver with the idea to offer the client tattooing that most shops would consider ‘impossible’ to do, offering the finest lines and detail, and still to this day that’s what we offer.”

He further explains his business and what all he has achieved with Funhouse Tattoo saying,

I have a long history in this business (since 1985) along with my twin. We were pro skateboarders accredited with the marriage of the skateboarding and tattooing lifestyles, We hold 5 international patents on tattoo technology, have written an industry textbook which was translated into 6 languages, and have done seminars on it all over the world, we have tattooed exclusively Julia Gnuse, the Guinness Book of World Records’ most tattooed woman EXCLUSIVELY, we have appeared on Guinness prime time, You Asked for it, Pro Sieben (German TV), Larry King Live and been asked to interview for LA Ink, Miami Ink, New York Ink, and a Cover-up show… and more as well as magazines such as Skin and Ink, Inked Australia, Tattoo, Tattoo Gallery, Rolling Stone, Thrasher.. and many more. I understand reputation so I don’t hire substandard artists.

At Funhouse Tattoo, they aim to keep up with the neatness and cleanliness of the studio so that their clients can feel safe and comfortable. The artist here has been certificated in bloodborne pathogens training and another safety measure. The focus of the artists at Funhouse Tattoo is that they must serve their clients the best. The clients thus become the most important parts of their jobs and their reputation has continued to make them one of its kind.

The artist at Funhouse Tattoo comes from different parts of the world and is efficient in various kinds of styles and designs. They aim to give their clients a better version of their dreams.

Shop Name: Fun House Tattoo
Address: Fun House Tattoo, 3001 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4N4, Canada
Contact: +1 604-879-4114
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Facebook: Fun House Tattoo, Fun House Tattoo
Instagram: @Funhousetattooingbc, @Propone98, @Justincoxtattoos, @tbirdtattoos, @scumpig, @godoytattoos @godoygarage
Yelp: Fun House Tattoo
Website:funhousetattoo.net
Timings: Monday- Sunday 12 PM- 8 PM

Location on Google Maps:

8. Hailey Martin- Arcane Body Arts

Besides being a famous and amazing studio at Vancouver, Arcane Body Arts are different because it uses vegan products for their work. They specialize in custom designs and also work in the piercing section. The quality of their jewelry is remarkable. Arcane Body Arts are owned by Michelle Livingston and were renamed Arcane Body Arts from Adorned Prevision Body arts in May 2017.

The main aim of the Arcane Body Arts studio is to render their customer’s professional services in a clean and safe environment for them where they feel welcomed. They promote vegan stuff that uses natural and vegan-friendly inks as much as possible. The jewelry that they produce is also ethically produced and is free of any implant-grade materials which are harmful to health.

Their established reputation with the clients speaks for the quality of work that they provide. In the words of the owner herself, “We love what we do and we are passionate about it being done not only correctly but beautifully. Great experiences with our clients are why we love our jobs.”

Hailly is a tattoo artist at Arcane Body Arts who began her tattoo training in early 2013, while also tending college for Visual Arts and Art History. She has been serving as a full-time artist for the past five years, principally in the Fraser Valley but now settled in Vancouver. You can usually spot her exploring for guest spots and conventions.

What all she prides on is the custom work which she also specializes in black and grey neo-traditional and ornamental styles which usually involve high contrast dot work, floral and geometric details. She also has a large soft spot for ocean-themed designs and is deeply impacted by nature.

Brianne was born and grew up in Kelowna BC, after which she moved to Vancouver in 2008 to study at Emily Carr University where she received a BFA in Visual Arts. She started inking at Arcane Body Arts (then known as Adorned Precision Body Arts) in early 2015 after practicing in permanent makeup with Biotouch Canada. She is currently living in the easter part of Vancouver with her partner Jeremy and her cat, Tuba where she rides bikes and tries her hand on many kinds of things.

Shop Name: Arcane Body Arts
Address: Arcane Body Arts, 1111 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X3, Canada
Contact: +1 604-254-5111
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Facebook: Arcane Body Arts
Instagram: @arcanebodyarts, @haillymartintattoos, @sdmck_art_tattoo, @Mooreatattoo, @caledoniatattoo, @brawnsoone_tattoo, @dwam, @hello_wasp
Yelp: Arcane Body Arts
Twitter: @arcanebodyarts
Website:arcanebodyarts.ca
Timings: Wednesday- Sunday 11 AM- 8 PM

Location on Google Maps:

9. Justina Kervel & Luvia Petersen- Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective

Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective was first started and established by Justina Kervel & Luvia Petersen while their trips to Paris in the year 2000. The fate of meeting with tattoo artist Phillipine of Kaplan Art Studio encouraged them to subscribe to the growth of females in the tattoo industry.

Thus it was during 2001 when they opened Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective in Vancouver in Kitsilano after which they moved to Burrard and Davie. They have now finally settled their door at Vancouver’s Gastown area which is home to other great and talented tattoo artists like those in Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective.

One of the main changes one can see in Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective is their consistent growth. Justina started this studio as being an only artist and now it has many talented artists from all over the globe, expanding the Liquid Amber Tattoo family. Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective has been consistent in giving quality tattoos to their customers. They have a three-story building in the middle of Gastown where they provide both custom and conceptualized tattoos and have an art gallery too which showcases the best works of the local artists.

With thirteen resident artists, Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective is home to a different group that incorporated artists such as Justina Kervel, Ashley Horncastle, Milo Marcelo, Diana Lin, Amelia Vogan, Lauren Carr, Nicki Lochmatter, Ania Ray, Aly Brooke, Fer Najera, Jin O, Miranda Boire, and Cristina Gissi. Besides this, Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective is also approved by the health authority of Vancouver for its levels of hygienic and cleanliness concerns.

Justina Kervel was born in North Vancouver and when she was 8 years old she moved to Great Yarmouth, England with her parents. Throughout this time Justina’s ability of fabrication and illustration was becoming extremely manifest. Her return to Canada in the late 80s helped her explore her creative skills. She trained under many kinds of tattoo artists which she traveled across Europe and honed her tattoo skills too. She explored various kinds of arts like drawing, painting, wood burning, clay modeling, soapstone, etc. Thus, it was clear that she has worked endlessly to make her dream of having her own tattoo studio in the form of Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective come to life.

After then Justina has been identified at worldwide levels doing everything from various television/radio spots, write-ups, and articles in major art magazines, to getting awards at global tattoo conventions. She has her proficiency in many kinds of styles and she is extremely versatile. However, it is pop surrealism where her heart lies.

Ashley, a tattoo artist at Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective, grew up in Richmond which is near Vancouver, and began drawing, doodling,d making art when she was a child. Art was always a big part of her life. She got an easy start in her tattoo career and started an apprenticeship under Jmaer Cokier at Lotus Land Tattoo after she completed her high school studies. Thus, it was then when she became a full-time tattoo artist. She loves to look up and resolve new challenges. Her favorite way of styling is bold, colorful, neo-traditional, and black and grey realism kind of works.

Shop Name: Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective
Address: Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective, 62 Powell St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1E7, Canada
Contact: +1 604-738-3667
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Liquid Amber Tattoo
Instagram:@liquidambertattoo
Tumblr: Liquid Amber Tattoo
Youtube: Liquid Amber Tattoo
Twitter:@LiquidAmberVan
Website:liquidambertattoo.com
Timings: Monday- Sunday 12 PM- 8 PM

Location on Google Maps:

10. Rayna- Chronic Ink

Chronic Ink is one of the few tattoo artists in the whole of Canada which has a worldwide reputation. It is thus a perfect place for anyone who wants a professional and perfect stroke on their tattoo. They started as a pop-up tattoo studio and since the success of pop-ups was so immense that they established their own studio in Vancouver to be one of the best tattoo shops found here.

The shop is positioned in Kitsilano, on the edge of west 4th Avenue and Burrard Street. Right now, the Chronic Ink studio only does tattoos but that’s quite sufficient looking at the kind of variety that they provide. They also welcome walk-ins but only if any artists are available so it is better to get an appointment. The waiting list is too long to wait.

The Chronic Ink studio also offers free consultancy services so that you can have the best of your designs and while working with a professional artist, you can cement your tattoo design. In Chronic Ink you can bring in your vaguest design but with the help of the tattoo artists here and their professional advice, you will see them turn to reality.

But what’s it that makes Chronic Ink the best tattoo studios in the town? Well, the studio boasts of having the most talented artists in Canada. You will meet some of the most professional artists that you will come across who specialize in a variety of styles. The forte of Chronic Ink lies in neo-Asian tattoos.

Rayna, a tattoo artist at Chronic Ink, shines at blackwork tattoos, producing vivid pictures that don’t require color to make them pop. If you’re thinking of getting a bold tattoo that profits from premium blackwork, Rayna should be the prime professional you speak to.

Edward Truong is one of Chronic Ink’s most conventional guest artists, and his style shows the essence of Chronic Ink’s love of Asian-style tattoos. Edward began his profession doing black-and-white Asian tattoos, and while his tendency has become more fashionable, it still maintains its Asian roots. If you need a full-body Asian dragon, Edward can take the project.

Fine lines tattoo is very much in trend. It is the kind of tattoo that needs to work with a load of thin lines and delicate structures to render the design. It needs a lot of practice and hard work with another tattoo artist at Chronic Ink has mastered. Marina is perfect for the job if you want to enjoy the amazing fine line tattoos in Vancouver.

Clarissa has a fun side to her personality and enjoys making illustrative and whimsical pieces. She loves to draw fine line designs too. If you are new to tattoo Clarissa’s professionalism and hard work would take you home with her instantly.

Louise is also another Chronic Ink artist who works on illustrative designs and is willing to take on any challenge to achieve her goals. She also likes watercolor designs as she loves playing with colors and gradients to give her tattoos a very creative touch. If you need a bright and eye-catchy design, Louise is the perfect one to work with.

Being one of the youngest artists at Chronic Ink, Alan specializes in Asian-style tattoos. He gives a lot of attention to details and makes clever use of black and grey ink.