Sponsored Artist of the Month - Josh Hurrell

Josh Hurrell is the incredible black and grey artist creating weird and wild pop culture designs in his unmistakable style!

Based at Legacy Tattoo Studio in Suffolk, Josh’s work predominantly includes elements of horror, folklore and the natural world, punctuated by collaborations with colour artists.

We spoke to Josh about the machines and inks he uses to create his distinctive work, his advice for apprentice tattoo artists, and the childhood aspirations he sadly grew out of…

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I grew up obsessed with Jurassic Park. Dinosaurs were so interesting to me and I got really into studying them; their anatomy, fossil records, biology and evolution. So, naturally…

I wanted to be an old, white, multi-millionaire wearing a silly hat.

Who helped you or inspired you the most at the beginning of your career?

I’ve had various helping hands throughout my career, but I would say I owe a huge amount to Mike (Stockings) who showed me a lot about what it means to be driven and successful, as well as creating art and tattooing. So yeah, thanks Mike!

How long have you worked at Legacy Tattoo, and who else is there with you?

I’ve worked at Legacy since 2012.

I work alongside a whole team of talented (and funny) people in all different styles of tattooing. Mike Stockings, Chris Stockings, Jessica Penfold, Claire Rudhall, Belle Jorden, Ant Bardot, Joe Penn and Jimmy Ostler.

How do you describe your tattoo art style?

I would say my style is black and grey illustrative….but I’ve always struggled with the right description for it. Blackwork, dotwork, texture….and some white. That's catchy isn’t it…

How do you get such striking contrast in your pieces?

I try my best to place the darkest parts of the design next to open skin and white, which maximises contrast in the design.

I think the use of block areas of black next to thick white outlines helps that to be effective.

You occasionally use just a touch of red in your pieces - what’s your go-to red ink, and how do you know when to use it?

I’ll be honest, whenever I do have to use a colour in my work, I have a mild internal crisis and then act casual and ask one of the colour artists in the shop what they like to use... Then I pretend that’s exactly what I was going to do anyway.

But my go to is Eternal Colours or Dermaglo Light Red I suppose. I try to use the red as a focal point, so somewhere it’ll have an impact.

What would your ideal tattoo session be like?

My ideal session would be working on a nice forearm or lower leg, tattooing something folklore or cryptid related, on a person that lays so still you’re not quite sure if they’re still alive. But they’re fine, don’t worry…and they brought coffee with them.

We love your collaborations with Mike Stockings - is there anyone else you’d like to make a tattoo with?

I think collabs look great when there are two very different styles smashed together, but I bloody love collabs, so if anyone fancies one, hit me up! I’d love to do something Evangelion related!

What is your favourite tattoo that you’ve done in the last year?

I’m quite critical with the work that I do, but I really enjoyed the reverse-bear trap that I did recently from the Saw films, as its imagery I’ve never done before. Super fun. And on a customer that always has the best ideas.

Would you ever want to experiment with other styles or techniques?

As much as I would love to experiment with other stuff, it’s taken me such a long time to find a style that I enjoy and feel comfortable creating in. I always look at realism and love the thought of doing that. But my brain isn’t powerful enough for it, I just don’t understand it. I’ve tried in the past and it looked like I did it with my eyes shut!

What aftercare advice do you give your customers for incredible results?

I always recommend using cling film, to wash and rewrap for a few days after the tattoo. Keeping the tattoo clean is the most important thing, I think. And using aftercare balm products from Whitfields after that!

But I also like to ask my customers what they tend to do with their aftercare and discuss it, as everyone is different.

Which tattoo artists are doing amazing work right now?

Anrijs Straume, Bruno Santos, Alan Daniel, Alex Sorsa, to name a few! But the beauty of social media is I find new people everyday that make me think to myself “Should I just give up now?”

If your clients had to pay you in something other than money, what would it be?

Sushi…or fossils!

Can you talk us through your workstation please?

I use a Cheyenne Unlimited 4.0 for small lines and dotwork and a Kwadron Equaliser Drop Pen for all my thicker linework and black work. I use Dynamic Black, Dynamic Ink 80 Greywash and Dynamic White, and everything is powered by Critical batteries and stress!

What advice do you have for apprentice tattoo artists?

My advice would be to focus on your artwork and get together a strong body of work that you’re proud of before you even consider tattooing anyone.

I see it a lot nowadays where people want to fast track the process to making money, but really, tattooing takes time. Experience is the most valuable tool a tattooer can implement, and that’s not something you learn. It’s something you earn.

Do you have any tips on how to get great photos for social media purposes?

Get yourself some decent lighting, try and keep the backdrop the same if you want continuity, or at least make sure the white balance is the same. Having a white or light background for black and grey work definitely makes it pop! And if your work is often shiny (like mine), a polariser on your phone is your best mate.

How many tattoos do you have, and which is your favourite?

Oh god, I have a lot. But to tell you the truth, I would laser them all off and start again tomorrow if I could.

When someone invents a tub of chemicals that instantly removes tattoos, pain-free, then I will dive headfirst into it.

Do you have any conventions or guest spots lined up for 2024/2025?

I don’t have any travel plans at the moment, but I’d like to get back in the swing of things going forward. Next year you’ll hopefully see a lot more of me!

Not in that way….

What do you enjoy doing outside of tattooing?

Outside of tattooing I basically don’t do anything! I’d say I’m one step away from being a hermit. But occasionally, when the moon is full, I crawl out of the crypt and socialise! Oh, and I play guitar.

What does the future hold for Josh Hurrell?

Well I thought I’d have a flying car by now, but the reality is I’ve got a bad knee and grey hairs in my beard.

However, a wise man once said - “don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant”

So I’m gonna plant me some f**king seeds I guess!