Realism tattooing is one of the most technically demanding disciplines in the craft. Done well, it creates work that stops people in their tracks — photographic depth, accurate tonal range, the kind of detail that makes you look twice. Done poorly, it's flat, muddy, and ages badly.
Sunken Hollow is a private appointment-only studio in Loughborough specialising in custom realism and dark art. Every piece is designed from scratch by Jamie Wilson — a tattooist with over a decade of experience working specifically in realism and its darker sub-genres.
Clients travel from across the East Midlands — Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham — and further. The work is worth the journey.
Five styles.
One consistent standard.
Realism isn't a single style — it's a family of approaches that share a commitment to technical precision and visual depth. These are the five Jamie works in most frequently.
Black & Grey Realism
The foundation of the style. High contrast, precise tonal gradation, deep shadow work. Subjects range from portraiture to organic forms to architectural detail. Ages exceptionally well.
Portrait & Memorial
Portraits of loved ones, memorial pieces, character studies. Technically the most demanding work in realism — capturing likeness requires a level of precision that few artists can sustain. A specialism here, not an afterthought.
Dark Art & Horror
Where realism meets the unsettling. Organic horror, anatomical subjects, mythology, creatures that sit between the beautiful and the disturbing. The studio's signature aesthetic.
Colour Realism
Full colour realism demands a different technical approach — accurate hue relationships, controlled saturation, smooth blending across the spectrum. Vibrant work that holds over time when done correctly.
Wildlife & Animal
Fur, feather, scale — texture-driven realism that rewards scale and patience. Predators, deep sea creatures, birds of prey. Work that suits sleeves and large-format pieces particularly well.
Selected pieces
from the studio.
A small selection of recent realism work from Sunken Hollow. For the full portfolio, visit the studio's Instagram or the portfolio section of this site.
Private studio.
Personal process.
Sunken Hollow operates by appointment only. There are no walk-ins, no flash sheets, and no off-the-shelf designs. Every piece starts with a conversation.
Submit an enquiry
Use the form on the main site. Describe your concept, placement, and approximate size. Reference images are welcome — the more context, the better the response.
Personal review
Every enquiry is reviewed personally by Jamie. You'll hear back within 48 hours with an honest assessment of whether the concept is a good fit and how to move forward.
Booking fee secures your slot
Once dates are agreed, a booking fee is required to hold your appointment. This covers design work, drawing, and preparation — it's deducted from your session cost on the day.
Design and session
The stencil is hand-drawn. You'll see the design before anything touches your skin. The session itself is unhurried — large realism work takes time to do properly, and that time is built into how the studio operates.
Based in Loughborough.
Clients from across the East Midlands.
The studio is located at 34 Leicester Road, Loughborough, LE11 2AG — easily accessible from Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, and the wider East Midlands. There is parking nearby and the studio is a short walk from Loughborough town centre.
Clients regularly travel from Leicester (15 minutes), Nottingham (30 minutes), Derby (40 minutes), and further. If the work is right, the distance is worth it — as more than a few reviews will tell you.
Ready to discuss
your concept?
Start an Enquiry
Appointment only · No walk-ins · Every request reviewed personally