davestrod.com

Welcome to Edinburgh tattoo gallery

Gallery

A selection of tattoo work created in my Edinburgh studio — including cover-up tattoos, healed work, and ongoing custom tattoo projects.

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If you’re looking for a tattoo cover-up in Edinburgh or a custom tattoo designed to last, take a look through the work below.

Hyper-realistic black and grey demon warrior fantasy tattoo on upper arm, featuring detailed armour, horns and dramatic shadow work. Custom illustrative tattoo by Edinburgh's best fantasy tattoo artist — dark realism and surreal character design.
Terrifier movie, Horror clown portrait tattoo on forearm, high-detail illustrative realism colour work with red blood tones and dark blue background, done in Edinburgh.
Black and grey forearm tattoo featuring a realistic rose and compass design, created by the best tattoo artist in Edinburgh. This detailed illustrative realism piece shows strong contrast, smooth shading, and composition designed to age well on the skin.
Hyper-realistic eye tattoo on the forearm combined with surreal elements, crafted by the best tattoo artist in Edinburgh. This black and grey piece highlights precision, depth, and advanced shading techniques for long-lasting, high-quality results.
Healed
Black work armband male tattoos in edinburgh
Futuristic grimdark armored warrior tattoo, heavy power armor soldier in dark sci-fi universe, realistic science fiction tattoo on forearm, custom tattoo design
In Progress
Black and grey realism cover-up tattoo on the lower leg featuring an Alien xenomorph with biomechanical details, dark atmospheric shading, and smooth painterly transitions, seamlessly integrated into a large illustrative realism horror tattoo composition by an Edinburgh tattoo artist.
Futuristic grimdark armored vampire tattoo, heavy power armor soldier in dark sci-fi universe, realistic science fiction tattoo on forearm, custom tattoo design
In Progress
Black and grey realism cover-up tattoo on the lower leg, featuring a Terminator portrait inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger with exposed cyborg details, smooth painterly shading, strong contrast, and seamless integration over an older tattoo, created by an Edinburgh tattoo artist.
3+ years Healed/Cover up
Realistic whisky glass tattoo on ankle created by Edinburgh tattoo artist Davids Strods — fine-detail black and grey realism inspired by Scotland’s whisky culture, perfect for travellers seeking unique tattoo experiences in Edinburgh.
Black and grey realism tattoo of Frankenstein’s monster on the lower leg, featuring a classic horror portrait with painterly shading, strong contrast, and smooth tonal transitions, part of a larger illustrative realism tattoo composition by an Edinburgh tattoo artist.
3+ years Healed
Healed
Full-color floral tattoo design sleeve on upper arm and forearm featuring soft pastel peonies design, green leaves, and bold blue background accents — realistic and painterly tattoo style by @davidstrods.
Tattoo of Chinese god, mystical creature, game inspired leg sleeve
Realistic black panther back tattoo with red lilies – bold illustrative realism tattoo design for women, combining dynamic animal movement with vibrant floral elements. Custom large-scale back tattoo artwork by professional tattoo artist.
Illustrative realism tattoo sleeve with mushrooms, cosmos, green leaves, and insects in full color
Abstract realism leg tattoo featuring vibrant red, orange, and yellow accents with a fragmented textured face, grayscale portrait with a hand on the chin, and a black circular dragon-inspired design. A unique custom tattoo for those seeking bold, artistic tattoo designs.
Cover up tattoo of a lion face in sketch avante garde style on the shoulder
Cover up
Vibrant upper arm tattoo blending realism and abstract elements, featuring a crumpled paper design with the bold phrase 'Modernity Has Failed Us' in glowing neon-style text. This striking piece serves as a tribute to the band The 1975, incorporating intricate folds, dynamic colors, and subtle textures to create depth and contrast, reflecting a thought-provoking and contemporary artistic statement.
Cover up
Creative leg tattoo featuring a striking blend of landscape and fantasy art. The design showcases a dark, menacing creature with glowing red eyes emerging from a vivid blue lake, surrounded by misty forest scenery. A bold and dynamic piece that combines illustrative realism and painterly artistry.
Realistic wolf tattoo on forearm featuring a detailed wolf eye in black and grey with vibrant yellow iris, combined with a full-body howling wolf silhouette against a moonlit landscape. Custom illustrative realism tattoo in Edinburgh studio
Healed
A vibrant forearm tattoo featuring a detailed skull design with glowing blue highlights, surrounded by a mystical circular pattern. The artwork combines intricate linework with bold colors, creating a captivating and dynamic visual effect.
black and grey Freddy Krueger tattoo – horror realism portrait by tattooist Davids Strods in Edinburgh
An artistic black and gray tattoo design featuring a surreal blend of a woman's profile and abstract elements, complemented by intricate mushroom details. The piece highlights illustrative realism, showcasing fine shading and bold contrasts on the forearm
Abstract tattoo design on the upper arm featuring concentric patterns resembling wood grain or tree rings. The black ink piece is rectangular in shape, with fine detailing that creates depth and texture. This creative and minimalist tattoo demonstrates unique artistry while blending modern design with organic inspiration.
Intricate Asian-inspired guardian lion tattoo on forearm, showcasing realistic stone textures, ornate details, and a mix of black, grey, and golden tones. Custom illustrative realism tattoo art by Edinburgh tattoo artist
Cover up
Colorful cute frog tattoo in anime style by Davids Strods at Tattoo Gallery Edinburgh — playful geek-inspired design, among the best tattoos for anime lovers.
Healed
Beautiful gibson guitar tattoo in edinburgh
a tattoo design of a person's arm Mandalorian, star wars tattoo
Cover up
Junji Ito inspired female portrait tattoo — detailed black and grey horror realism design by Davids Strods, Edinburgh tattoo artist specialising in illustrative realism and fine detail work.
Realistic camera tattoo on leg by David Strods at Tattoo Gallery Edinburgh — detailed illustrative realism design, one of the best tattoos for photography lovers.
High quality realistic aster flower tattoo on forearm by Edinburgh tattoo artist David Strauss. Professional floral realism tattoos in Edinburgh, Scotland for international clients seeking expert craftsmanship.

With cover-up tattoos, you won’t see “before” photos here — and that’s intentional.

A proper cover-up tattoo should look like a clean, finished tattoo design, not something that’s hiding what was there before. That’s the standard I work to as an Edinburgh tattoo artist, and I don’t compromise on it.

I’ve been on the other side of it myself, so I understand what it means to want a tattoo done properly. This process takes time, and it works best when both sides are committed to getting it right.

Interested in something similar?

Head to the booking page and start your tattoo project.

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Contact Me for Tattoo Inquiries though button below – book seamlessly through Bookings page or FAQ for Questions