Nice Alternative Tattoo & Shop

Nice Alternative Tattoo & Shop Nice Alternative offers you what you’ve been missing from the tattoo industry: transparency, privacy, safety, support, acceptance, guidance.

There’s also a variety of cool things in our online shop.

I have been exploring the jagged geometric spiral before. Here we interpreted the ancient Sanskrit symbol for breathe in...
03/06/2026

I have been exploring the jagged geometric spiral before. Here we interpreted the ancient Sanskrit symbol for breathe into something that feels very differentiated, bold, minimal, and very Nice Alternative. Noticed that soft gray shadow in the back that somehow follows, but also does not correspond to the primary shape? Over time that will heal to a very, very soft and subtle supporting detail to this tattoo.

I have been secretly waiting for the opportunity to tattoo a Dalmatian portrait and Harry over here did not disappoint. ...
31/05/2026

I have been secretly waiting for the opportunity to tattoo a Dalmatian portrait and Harry over here did not disappoint. Keeping with Nice Alternative minimalism we remained teetering on the line of abstraction while remaining figurative, descriptive, and accurate to the subject.

Meet Antonio.  This tattoo developed from earlier studies exploring the use of overlapping shading to describe not only ...
28/05/2026

Meet Antonio. This tattoo developed from earlier studies exploring the use of overlapping shading to describe not only volume, but also identifying features and form. Slide through to see some of the supporting illustrations I created for Antonio, along with earlier work where I began developing this illustrative approach.
I think much of the tonal range in this piece will only truly reveal itself once the tattoo has healed. As you know, fresh tattoos often appear far darker than their healed counterparts — especially the lighter grey tones, which in this photo read almost black.
I’ll share a healed version when I can.

The magnolias have been a theme for my studio for a long time. They have existed in several different iterations, but ne...
23/05/2026

The magnolias have been a theme for my studio for a long time. They have existed in several different iterations, but never this large and this bold. Here we reduce the image to a contour line drawing and exaggerated it all over the body. Filling the canvas with Information that feels descriptive, minimalistic, balanced and m responds to the body’s natural form beautifully.

These large format floral botanicals ecapsulate everything Nice Alternative is about. Bold yet dedicate, confident yet s...
20/05/2026

These large format floral botanicals ecapsulate everything Nice Alternative is about. Bold yet dedicate, confident yet soft at the same time. We achieve this through moulding the image to the body, being reserved and sensitive about information, balancing on the line between illustration and realism. Leaving us with this yet undeniably, strong back piece.

Every artwork is my new favourite, but i particularly liked this one for its smooth, soft lines, seeking to combine flor...
17/05/2026

Every artwork is my new favourite, but i particularly liked this one for its smooth, soft lines, seeking to combine floral botanical with handwritten text. The challenge here was balancing asymmetry on the body’s center line, but i think we managed that very well.

Flourishing oversize text requires such a strict meditation to execute.  Calligraphy constructed to match the body’s nat...
24/03/2026

Flourishing oversize text requires such a strict meditation to execute. Calligraphy constructed to match the body’s natural form, smoothed out line that feels modern and also classical, strong and bold tattooing guaranteed to age well… These things are my job description, this is where I thrive.

The Ease of Collecting Flash TattoosFlash tattoos are meant to ease up the tattoos collecting process.  Its the tattoo y...
30/07/2024

The Ease of Collecting Flash Tattoos
Flash tattoos are meant to ease up the tattoos collecting process. Its the tattoo you get when you you’re feeling a little spontaneous and carefree, or have an empty spot on your arm. Choosing a flash tattoo connects you to a wider community of fans of your favourite artists, and personally I’m always so very honoured (read: flattered) when somebody gets some of my flash tattooed.

Selecting smaller than average needles allow me to tattoo with micro-precision.  Its literally the equivalent of writing...
03/12/2022

Selecting smaller than average needles allow me to tattoo with micro-precision. Its literally the equivalent of writing with a fine-liner versus a permanent marker. Of course you’re going to achieve greater penmanship with the fine-liner. And the results speak for themselves. I also think fine tattooing stands a better chance at ageing well. I know that old saying: “bold will hold”, but as the skin ages and the lines blur a little, well, if there is less ink there is less blurring.

I’m very aware that by leaning into tiny needle groupings I’m opening myself up to a much higher risk of the tattoo blow...
03/12/2022

I’m very aware that by leaning into tiny needle groupings I’m opening myself up to a much higher risk of the tattoo blowing out. The tattoo machine’s punching power is always divided by the amount of needles in a grouping, and further by the needle gauge/thickness. By using a narrow gauge small needle grouping the force behind those needles are huge, and if you’re not careful, especially tattooing on a boney surface like a sternum, those needles can push all the way through to the bone. But my goodness, just look at the payoff!

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Cape Town

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