Joe Bird, black and grey realism and portrait tattoo artist, Gold Coast, Australia & Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
International award-winning tattoo artist specialising in black & grey realism and portrait tattoos. Gold Coast, AU · Newcastle, UK.
From the UK to Australia
Joe is a multi-award-winning artist specialising in black and grey realism and portrait tattoos, based between the Gold Coast, Australia and Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
His work moves between cinematic portraiture and detailed character pieces — heavy contrast, clean readability, and a quiet sense of drama built into every tattoo.
Detail in shadow,
patience in every line.
Recognised internationally for black and grey realism work.
Working between the Gold Coast, Australia and Newcastle, UK.
Every piece designed collaboratively for the wearer.
Got questions
before booking?
You'll find answers to the most common ones here. If there's anything else you'd like to know, you can ask in the booking form.
Book now- All bookings are taken through the booking form on the website. For the quickest response, please complete the form to the best of your ability. Any availability and travel dates will be updated on the Travel page. If a short-notice space comes up, it will be posted on my Instagram.
- I do not do any cover-ups or reworks of other artists' tattoos.
- When preparing for a tattoo, there are a few crucial steps you can start following to ensure your body and skin are in the best condition for tattooing. These include: • Eating a healthy, nutrient-rich diet to ensure your body is receiving the vitamins and minerals needed for good skin health. • Keeping yourself hydrated leading up to your appointment and on the day itself by drinking plenty of water (electrolytes can be beneficial too). Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so if you are dehydrated, your skin will be as well. • Avoiding sun exposure on the area you are going to be getting tattooed. I believe being in the sun is an important part of a healthy life, so I would not recommend avoiding it completely. However, I strongly advise covering the area to be tattooed when in the sun or applying total sunblock regularly. Unfortunately, I cannot tattoo sun-damaged skin, and being more tanned than usual has a negative impact on the tattoo process and the overall result of the healed piece. These are just a few steps you can take to prepare for your tattoo, but don't worry — once you are booked in, I will send you a more comprehensive protocol that covers everything, ensuring your skin is in the best possible condition for your tattoo day.
- Many tattoo artists have different approaches to healing tattoos. I personally see the best results with a mostly dry healing process. I find that a healthy body is very good at healing itself, so there is no need to overcomplicate the process. That said, there are still many things to consider when healing your tattoo, such as keeping it out of the sun, keeping it clean, and keeping it away from pets, among many others. Don't worry though — I will talk you through the full process once the tattoo is complete and will also send you a full aftercare procedure once you are booked in, so you can familiarise yourself with the dos and don'ts :)
Send me
your idea.
Currently taking bookings for the Gold Coast, Australia. Fill out the booking form with your idea and I'll get back to you via email.
Book now