Custom tattoo studio · Leeds
Tattoos drawn for you, not pulled off Pinterest.
Ninth Life is a two-artist studio in the Calls, Leeds. Every piece is drawn custom for the person wearing it. Free consultations, honest advice, and a studio that's cleaner than your kitchen.
What we do
Styles we work in.
If your idea doesn't fit a box below, bring it anyway. Drawing the odd ones is the fun part.
Blackwork & fine line
Bold black pieces, delicate single-needle work, geometric and ornamental designs.
From £90Traditional & neo-trad
Clean lines, solid colour, designs that still look sharp in thirty years. The classics, done properly.
From £90Cover-ups & reworks
Honest advice on what will actually work over an old piece. Sometimes that's a cover-up, sometimes a laser referral first.
Free consult firstRecent work
From the studio.
Got an idea? Sit down with us.
Consultations are free and there's no pressure to book. Bring references, half-ideas, or nothing but a body part and a feeling.
What clients say
Sample reviews.
On a real site these come straight from your Google reviews.
"Jess took a really vague idea and turned it into the best tattoo I have. Explained everything, checked in the whole way through."
Sample review · first tattoo
"Covered a fifteen-year-old disaster on my forearm. You genuinely cannot tell there was anything under it."
Sample review · cover-up
"Cleanest studio I've been in. They talk you through aftercare properly instead of just handing you a leaflet."
Sample review · regular client
The artists
Two chairs, no egos.
Both artists draw their own work. You'll always know who's tattooing you before you book.
Books open
Jess Marlow
Founded Ninth Life in 2014. Blackwork, ornamental and fine line. Jess plans large pieces across multiple sessions and is happiest working on backs, sleeves and anything with symmetry in it.
Books open · waitlist ~3 weeks
Tom Okafor
Traditional and neo-traditional. Ten years in the trade, joined the studio in 2019. Tom does most of the studio's colour work and all of its best animal designs.
Not sure whose style fits?
Book a consult and we'll match your idea to the right chair. No offence taken either way.
The studio
Clean, calm, and by the river.
Ninth Life sits in the Calls, five minutes from Leeds station. Private studio, no walk-in chaos, music at a volume you can talk over.
- Registered with Leeds City Council, No. 000000
- Single-use needles and inks, opened in front of you
- Hospital-grade sterilisation, surfaces wiped between every client
- 18+ only, photo ID required, no exceptions
- We won't tattoo anything we don't think will heal well
Common questions
Does it hurt?
Yes, but less than you fear and it fades fast. Ribs, feet and elbows are the spicy ones. We take breaks whenever you need.
How do I look after a new tattoo?
You leave with a written aftercare sheet and our number. Short version: keep it clean, moisturise lightly, stay out of the sun and out of swimming pools for two weeks.
Can I bring a design I found online?
Bring it as a reference. We won't copy another artist's work line for line, but we'll draw you something in the same spirit that fits your body properly.
Do you do walk-ins?
Occasionally on flash days, which we announce on Instagram. Otherwise everything is by appointment.
Booking
How booking works.
Free consult
Twenty minutes in the studio or over email. We talk idea, placement, size and budget.
Deposit & drawing
A deposit books your date and comes off the final price. Your artist draws the piece and you review it before the day.
Tattoo day
Eat first, wear comfy clothes, bring headphones if you like. We handle the rest.
Pricing
Straight answers on money.
Every piece is quoted individually at consult. These are the numbers that never change.
- Minimum charge£90
- Hourly rate (large work)£110/hr
- Full-day session£650
- Deposit (comes off final price)£50
- ConsultationsFree
Get in touch
Call or text 07700 900318, message us on Instagram, or use the form. We reply within a day, usually faster.
Studio hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm.