The Art of
Ben Bickley

The Art of Ben Bickley / People and pets

Portrait tattoos in Geelong

A person or an animal with meaning to you. Explore portrait tattoos by Ben Bickley, created by appointment at his private North Geelong studio.

Start with the subject

A face, an expression, a story.

A portrait tattoo can centre on someone important to you, a beloved pet or a musician. The starting point is the subject and the details you recognise in it: an expression, the direction of the light or the texture of hair and fur.

Ben works across tattooing, painting and drawing. His published tattoo portfolio includes human and animal portraits in colour and black and grey. The examples on this page are photographs of his tattoo work.

Colour or black and grey

Choose the feeling before the palette.

Black and grey portraits use contrast and a range of tones to describe expression, form and texture. Colour can introduce another layer through skin tones, fur, clothing, flowers or a surrounding scene.

Bring examples that help explain what you like. You do not need to decide every detail before enquiring. Ben can discuss how the subject, reference image and intended placement might work together.

Useful reference photographs

Give the important details room to be seen.

For a portrait of a person or pet, send the clearest original photographs you have. A well-lit image with visible facial detail gives the studio more information than a small screenshot or a heavily filtered photograph. Several photographs can help explain the features or expression that matter to you.

Tell Ben which image is your preference and why. Include the proposed placement and approximate size in centimetres. The available space affects the composition and the amount of detail, so Ben assesses those together before agreeing on a design.

Consultation and planning

Discuss the piece at the North Geelong studio.

The Art of Ben Bickley is at 20 - 22 Rodney Road, North Geelong, VIC 3215. Studio visits are by appointment. Send your idea and reference photographs through the private enquiry form before visiting.

Lina can help arrange a 30-minute consultation with Ben. Ben confirms the design, suitability, quote and tattoo duration after reviewing the work. An enquiry begins the conversation and does not itself confirm a tattoo appointment.

Portraits from Ben’s tattoo portfolio

Black and grey Ozzy Osbourne portrait tattoo, with a bat above and a smaller performance scene below.
Ozzy Osbourne portrait in black and grey, by Ben Bickley.
Black and tan dog portrait tattoo with upright ears and an intersecting geometric star frame, by Ben Bickley.
Dog portrait with a geometric frame, by Ben Bickley at The Art of Ben Bickley.
Black and grey portrait tattoo of a young man with wavy hair and a sideways gaze, by Ben Bickley.
Male portrait in black and grey, by Ben Bickley.
Cyberpunk-style colour tattoo of a woman in reflective sunglasses above a neon city scene, with a car and a glowing circular backdrop.
Cyberpunk-inspired colour portrait with neon city details, by Ben Bickley at The Art of Ben Bickley.

See more colour realism and black and grey realism, or explore the full tattoo portfolio.

Working around an existing tattoo? Read the cover-up assessment guide before sending your photographs.

Read what to expect from the process, then enquire about your portrait tattoo.

An idea is a good place to start

Make it yours.

Tell Ben what you have in mind. Together, you’ll find the right direction for a piece that feels personal.

Let’s talk about your tattoo