For the readers who are not familiar with you, how would you introduce yourself?
Hey! I’m Tom ‘No Morals’ Johnson, a colour realism tattoo artist with 17 years of experience, based in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. I work on creating vibrant colour portraits and pieces heavily influenced by pop culture — everything from films and music to cartoons and graffiti.
I’ve run my own studio, NMT, for 11 years, where I work alongside some incredibly talented artists. When I’m not at the studio, I’m often doing guest spots or working at conventions.
At what point in your life did you become a professional tattoo artist?
I started my tattoo career in 2008 at the age of 22 and completed a traditional-style 2.5-year apprenticeship. I was fortunate enough to work and learn from some very talented artists.
How would you define your current tattoo style and how did you end up focusing on it?
My current tattoo style is best defined as colour realism with a new school twist. I specialize in color portraits and realism pieces, but I try to incorporate elements from graffiti and subjects I personally love, like 80s and 90s cartoons. I started focusing on portraits as a way to challenge myself — even though I used to draw them, I had a real nervousness about tattooing them.
What’s the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist in 2025?
One of the biggest challenges in 2025 is the requirement to not only continue to improve your tattooing, develop your style, run a successful business but also keep up with the challenges of social media and the huge over saturation of the industry.
There are also issues that are impacting the entire industry’s standards and the public’s perception of what constitutes professional tattoo artistry. This include the popularity of ‘tattoo schools’ and the unrealistic 2 day course that people believe teaches them all they need to know and ‘qualifies’ them to cover all styles of tattooing! The number of beauticians entering the tattoo industry, particularly in the fine-line tattoo market, often offering services at unsustainably low prices without proper training or understanding.
A new challenge unique to 2025 is the AI impact, specifically clients using AI to generate tattoo designs! While technology can be helpful, it often leads to unrealistic expectations and designs that don’t translate well to skin. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to explain to clients why certain AI-generated designs aren’t practical or can’t be translated into a tattoo.
What is your experience of tattoo conventions so far?
I am really lucky to have worked some awesome shows, met some amazing people and got to showcase my tattoos to different audiences. I typically try to attend between 4-8 conventions annually, and they’ve become something to really look forward to. Its great to put yourself unknown territory!
They are a great opportunity to network, grown within the industry and learn along the way. We need all of these things as artists to continue to evolve.
What is your favourite tattoo convention so far and why?
While I’ve been fortunate to attend many incredible shows the New York Tattoo Convention from last year stands out as my favorite. What made it particularly special was being invited to judge at the show. It also had such a great community spirit with artists happy to talk about techniques and equipment. There was also such an incredible mix of artists, it was fantastic to see people I admire working on pieces.
What advice would you give to first-time artists attending or working at a convention?
Choose Your Work Wisely: Pick a design you’re genuinely excited about doing. When you’re passionate about the piece, it shows in your work and helps manage the natural stress of working in a convention environment.
Don’t Overburden Yourself: Avoid putting too much pressure on yourself to compete with others or prove something. Focus on delivering quality work within your comfort zone rather than trying to match what other artists are doing.
Embrace the Experience: Use it as a learning opportunity. Observe other artists, network when possible, and don’t be afraid to speak to your favourite artists. I’ve found that most experienced artists are happy, usually friendly and very humble as they once were in your situation.
Who are the people you admire the most within the tattoo community?
The tattoo community is filled with incredible talent, and I’m constantly inspired by both UK-based and international artists. In the UK, I particularly admire the work of:
Internationally, I’m a fan of:
How do you stay at the top of your game?
Continuous learning and self-improvement. Never be naive enough to think you can’t learn from someone with less experience. Wisdom comes in many forms, every person and every situation has something to teach you. I also regularly participate in online and in person seminars, colour studies of a variety of subjects and constantly evaluate my work; finding areas for improvement analysing my technique and abilities.
Do you have sponsors? If yes, could you tell us about them?
Yes, I currently have two sponsors. One is Butterluxe, a well-known brand that provides high-quality aftercare products, which I regularly use and recommend to clients for optimal healing. The other is Force Cartridges, a UK-based needle company that supplies reliable, precise cartridges that support my work and help me maintain consistent results. I’m proud to represent both brands as they align with my commitment to quality and professionalism.
What are your goals or dreams for the near future?
My goals for the future blend both artistic growth and professional growth. I’m focusing on continuing to improve my technical skills and taking on more challenging and creative projects. I also want to maintain my commitment to learning and professional development. I would also love to travel more and participating in some more international conventions and establishing guest spots in different countries.
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