Full sleeves

Full sleeve tattoos in Edinburgh

A sleeve is a single composition that happens to be wrapped around an arm. Planned that way from the first session, it still reads as one piece decades later.

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One composition, not a collection

The difference between a sleeve and a crowd of separate tattoos is decided before the first session. We work out the whole arm first — where the eye enters, how the elements connect, which areas stay quiet so the rest can breathe. Individual sections get their detail as we reach them, but the structure is set at the start.

A project measured in sessions, not hours

Full sleeves are built across multiple full-day sittings, usually spread over months with healing time between them. Larger work is quoted per day rather than per hour. That pace is not a scheduling problem — it is what lets each stage settle before the next is built on top of it.

Working with what is already there

Existing tattoos do not automatically rule out a sleeve. Depending on their density and placement, they can be absorbed into the composition or covered within it. Send clear, well-lit photographs of what you already have and I will tell you honestly which of those is realistic.

Selected work

Full Sleeves — healed and fresh.

12 pieces from the archive. Tap any photograph to see it larger.

Good to know

Frequently asked

How long does a full sleeve take?

Typically several full-day sessions spread across months, with healing time between them. The exact number depends on the density of the design and how your skin takes the work. You will have a realistic range before we start, not a surprise at the end.

Can you build around tattoos I already have?

Often, yes — either by working them into the composition or covering them inside it. Black and grey realism is well suited to cover-ups. Bring clear photographs of the existing work to the consultation for an honest answer.

Do we design the entire sleeve before starting?

We settle the overall composition and flow up front, because that cannot be retrofitted. The detail within each section is drawn as we get to it, which keeps the piece responsive to how the earlier stages actually healed on you.

Also in the archive

Other styles

Portrait tattoos Animal & wildlife tattoos Nature & landscape tattoos Dark & surreal tattoos

Let's make something

Ready to start
your piece?

Tell me your idea and I'll take it from there. Consultations are relaxed and there's no obligation.

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