Jesse Smith’s curated selection, The Top Illustrators in Tattooing, honors the Artists whose ideas leap straight from imagination to ink. Jesse handpicked each name on this list for their mastery of illustration, the kind that’s not bound by style, but driven by vision, energy, and mark-making that’s unmistakably their own.

From bold cartoon-inspired designs to intricate dark art compositions, this list spans the broad terrain of tattoo illustration. But what unites them all is a deep-rooted love for drawing. These are the Artists who create not just with skill, but with soul; those who’ve been sketching since childhood, and who now carry that same passion into every line they lay down.

Whether you're into new school, dark art, illustrative realism, or styles that defy definition entirely, Jesse's list offers a treasure trove of talent. It’s a tribute to originality in its rawest form.