Sinfin · Derby · DE24
Custom Tattoo Studio
in Derby
Tattoo Creations is an appointment-only custom tattoo studio in Sinfin, Derby. Every piece is designed from scratch by Kev Oakton — no flash sheets, no templates, just bespoke artwork built around your idea, placement, and skin tone.
What a custom tattoo studio actually does
A true custom tattoo studio designs the tattoo for you rather than pulling from pre-drawn flash. The artist takes your reference material, your story, and the part of the body you want inked, then builds a one-off design around those constraints. It's collaborative — you see sketches, suggest tweaks, and approve the piece before the session is booked in.
That's how every project at Tattoo Creations runs. Kev works in realism, colour, black and grey, illustrative, and fine line styles, and pricing is built around the size and detail of your piece rather than a flat hourly rate. The end result is artwork that belongs to you — not a design 200 other people walked out with.
The custom process
01
Consultation
Share your idea, references, placement, and size. We talk through style options and what will hold up on skin over time.
02
Bespoke design
Kev draws a custom tattoo design specifically for you, shares it ahead of your session, and refines it based on your feedback.
03
Session
Appointment-only sessions in a calm, hospital-grade hygienic environment using quality inks and single-use needles.
04
Aftercare
Written aftercare tailored to your piece, plus ongoing email support through healing and for any touch-ups.
Styles the studio works in
Realism & portrait
Highly detailed realism in both colour and black and grey. Portraits, wildlife, and illustrative compositions built with depth, contrast, and longevity in mind.
Black and grey
Soft gradient shading through to bold, high-contrast black work. A versatile style that ages beautifully when layered correctly.
Colour
Full-colour palettes tailored to your skin tone, with colour packing techniques for smooth gradients and saturation that holds up.
Illustrative & fine line
Delicate fine line tattoos and illustrative work with a hand-drawn feel — great for smaller pieces, lettering, and scripts.
Cover-ups and redesign work
Cover-up tattoos are one of the most technical parts of custom work. Rather than patching an old piece with another generic design, the studio assesses the existing ink, the skin texture, and what's possible at your desired size — then builds bespoke artwork layered to maintain depth and ageing properties.
Where the old tattoo is too dark or too dense to cover cleanly, Kev will guide you on tattoo lightening options before the new piece is booked. The outcome is a tattoo that looks intentional from day one, not a compromise shaped by what was underneath.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a custom tattoo studio different from a flash studio? +
A custom tattoo studio designs every piece from scratch around your idea, placement, and skin tone rather than selecting from pre-drawn flash sheets. At Tattoo Creations in Derby, Kev Oakton collaborates on the concept, sketches options, and refines the artwork until it feels right before any needle touches skin.
How does the custom tattoo process work? +
Everything begins with a consultation — either in person at the Sinfin studio or by email — to discuss your reference material, style preference, size, and placement. From there Kev produces a bespoke design, shares it ahead of your session, and adjusts it based on your feedback. Pricing is confirmed before booking so there are no surprises on the day.
Which tattoo styles does Tattoo Creations specialise in? +
Realism, black and grey, colour, illustrative, and fine line work. Each custom tattoo is mapped to your anatomy with layered shading and colour packing techniques that hold up over time.
Do you take on cover-up tattoos? +
Yes. Cover-up and redesign work is a core part of the studio. Kev assesses the existing ink and skin texture, plans artwork that maintains depth and longevity, and advises on tattoo lightening sessions beforehand where needed.
How much does a custom tattoo in Derby cost? +
Pricing is based on size, style, and session length rather than a flat rate, because every custom piece is different. You'll get a transparent quote after the consultation and before booking a deposit.
How do I book a consultation? +
Use the consultation form on the contact section, or email kev@tattoocreations.co.uk directly. The studio operates by appointment only, Monday to Saturday, 11:00 to 17:00.
Connect with us
Start Your
Journey
Ready to plan your Derby tattoo? Share your idea and we’ll confirm consultation availability within one business day.
Studio Location
Serving Derby, Chellaston, Spondon, Nottingham & the East Midlands.
Studio Hours - (Appointment Only)
Tattoos are scheduled appointments — limited same-week slots on request.
Follow Our Work
Request Consultation
Prefer to speak directly?
kev@tattoocreations.co.uk