Neo Traditional and Blackwork Tattoos | Samantha Beedie

Two Styles, One Artist. And Why That's Actually a Good Thing.

If you've spent more than five minutes scrolling through my work, you've probably noticed something a bit different going on. There are two very distinct vibes happening and no, I haven't accidentally mixed up my portfolio with someone else's. Both of those wildly different tattoo styles? All me.

I get asked about this a lot. "Do you only do one style?" "Which one do you prefer?" "Can I get a bit of both?" So I figured it was time I actually talked you through what I do, why I do it, and how you can figure out which one might be right for you.

Let's Start at the Beginning

I'm Samantha Beedie, a tattoo artist based in Altrincham, and I've been tattooing long enough to know that forcing yourself into one creative box is a fast track to losing the love for it. My two main styles, neo traditional illustrative black and grey and ornamental blackwork, couldn't look more different on the surface. But they come from the same place. An obsession with detail, clean execution, and making sure every tattoo actually works on the body it's going on.

Style One | Neo Traditional Illustrative Black and Grey

When people ask me to describe this style, I usually say: imagine bold, characterful tattooing with the kind of depth and shadow you'd see in a pencil illustration or a charcoal drawing. That's the sweet spot.

The Dragon Queen thigh piece is a good example of what this style can do. A powerful female figure surrounded by dragons, rich layered shading, confident linework, and that kind of storybook darkness that makes you stop and look properly. The Persephone piece takes it somewhere else entirely, skulls nestled in roses, an exposed ribcage, that dark feminine energy that feels almost mythological. There's drama. There's narrative. There's detail you'll still be finding years from now.

Neo traditional illustrative black and grey works brilliantly for clients who:

• Have a strong concept or character in mind, mythological figures, dark feminine energy, fantasy themes, animals with personality
• Want something that feels like wearable art rather than a symbol or pattern
• Are after something bold that will age beautifully
• Are considering a half sleeve, full sleeve, thigh, or large scale piece

If someone comes to me with a brief like "I want a dark goddess figure surrounded by roses and skulls" that brief has this style written all over it.

Style Two | Ornamental Blackwork

This one is harder to explain with words, which is why I just let the work do the talking.

The celestial calf piece, a crescent moon with a face at its centre, surrounded by sun rays and decorative flourishes that wrap naturally with the leg, is a good starting point. No heavy shading. Instead it's all about the interplay between bold black fills and delicate linework, and the way the whole design moves with the body. The lotus piece on the back of the knee and calf takes a different direction, drawing on henna inspired geometry combined with detailed florals. Intricate, deliberate, and completely different in energy to the illustrative work but from the same hands.

Ornamental blackwork is where I live when I want to think purely about shape, flow, and how a design sits on skin.

This style is a great fit for clients who:

• Love celestial themes, moons, suns, stars, cosmic imagery
• Are drawn to something witchy, elegant, or mystical
• Want something that works beautifully on a forearm, shin, calf, or thigh
• Prefer a cleaner, more graphic look over heavy shading
• Are into decorative patterning that feels timeless rather than trendy

So Which Style Should You Choose?

Honestly? Sometimes this is obvious from the first message someone sends me. A client who opens with "I want something dramatic and dark with a female figure and lots of florals" is clearly in illustrative territory. Someone who says "I want something celestial that wraps around my calf, quite decorative" is heading toward blackwork.

But sometimes it's genuinely in between. And that's okay. Part of what I love about the consultation process is figuring out what someone actually wants, even when they don't quite have the words for it yet. That's what mood boards and reference images are for. You don't need to walk in knowing the name of the style you want. You just need to know how you want it to feel.

Save the pieces from my portfolio that make you stop scrolling. Not just the ones you think are technically impressive, but the ones that make you think "yes, I want that on me." That's your answer.

Why I Do Both

Some artists specialise in one style only and there's nothing wrong with that. But for me, working across two distinct styles keeps my work sharp. My illustrative pieces make me a better draughtsman, which feeds back into the precision I need for my blackwork. My blackwork keeps me thinking about composition and flow, which makes my illustrative pieces more dynamic. They genuinely make each other better.

What that means for you as a client is that you're working with someone who thinks about design from multiple angles, not just someone who's learned one formula and applies it to everything.

Ready to Book?

Whether you're drawn to the dark narrative drama of illustrative black and grey, or the elegant flow of ornamental blackwork, I'd love to hear about your idea. I take on custom projects from my studio in Altrincham and my books open periodically, so the best way to get in early is to reach out as soon as you have something forming.

You can book or enquire directly at getink.app/artists/samanthabeedie.tattoos and I'll take it from there.

Not quite sure what you want yet? Keep an eye on the blog. I'll be breaking each style down properly, sharing more work, and helping you figure out exactly what you're after before you even get in touch.

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Samantha Beedie is a tattoo artist based in Altrincham, UK, specialising in neo traditional illustrative black and grey tattoos and ornamental blackwork. Follow her work on Instagram @samanthabeedie.tattoos or book via getink.app/artists/samanthabeedie.tattoos