Avant Garde Tattoo - Tattoo Shop based in Cheltenham

Located in the heart of Cheltenham, Avant Garde Tattoo offers a unique blend of artistry, precision, and creativity within a professional and welcoming environment. As an established tattoo studio in Cheltenham, we prioritise hygiene, comfort, and collaboration to ensure every tattoo experience is exceptional from consultation through to the finished piece. Whether you are getting your first tattoo or adding to an existing collection, our experienced tattoo artists work closely with every client to create custom tattoos designed specifically for them.

We specialise in custom tattoo work across a wide range of styles, including blackwork tattoos, geometric tattoos, fine line tattoos, illustrative tattoos, black and grey tattoos, dotwork, script tattoos, neo traditional designs, animal tattoos, oriental inspired artwork, memorial tattoos, naive art, and large-scale sleeve or back piece projects. From minimalist fine line pieces to detailed geometric sleeve tattoos and bold blackwork designs, every tattoo is created with careful attention to detail, flow, and longevity.

Clients regularly visit our Cheltenham tattoo studio from across Gloucestershire, looking for experienced custom tattoo artists and high-quality original work. We believe every tattoo should feel personal, timeless, and unique to the individual wearing it, which is why we focus on bespoke artwork rather than copied designs.

At Avant Garde Tattoo, we create everything from small meaningful tattoos and birth dates of loved ones to full custom sleeves, black and grey realism, geometric mandalas, fine line floral tattoos, and large multi-session projects. No matter the size or style, our goal is to provide a professional tattoo experience and artwork you’ll be proud to wear for life.

Our rates

Lee

Price per Hour: £80

Minimum Charge: £50

Day Rate (up to 8 hours): £400

Gift vouchers: £10+

Dirtnap

Day Rate (up to 8 hours): £500

Please note that if you book the day rate and you don’t end up sitting for the full day, the price for the day rate will remain as we have dedicated the day to you. We encourage you to bear this is mind before booking.

@realleeavantgarde @dirtnap @wounded_pup @rosietodmantattoos

Get in touch today

Lee Morrison

Lee Morrison, alongside Dirtnap, is the founder of Avant Garde, a private Tattoo Studio situated just opposite the Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham, in a Grade II listed Regency Building. Avant Garde was opened in April 2021 and was created to provide a relaxed environment. The intention was to slow things down so Lee could take his time over fewer pieces.

Lee has over 20 years of tattooing experience behind him, which has resulted in an in-depth understanding of how to create pieces that age well and have longevity. He has lived and worked in Germany, America and South Africa; and has been tattooing out of his native England for an additional 12 years now.

He specialises in black work, geometric and line work; and is open to all styles of tattooing to keep things fresh and interesting. Lee offers free consultations as part of a comprehensive service, in order to take the time to discuss what you’d like to achieve; as well as answer your questions and offer guidance on how to best approach your idea. He will then provide a custom design at no extra charge.

Lee and Dirtnap have been working alongside each other for just under 10 years now; and their amusing dynamic allows for a comfortable experience.

Keiran Hills

Tattoo apprentice

Our apprentice, the affable Keiran Hills, has been training with us since October 2023. Since then, he has been diligently developing his neo traditional drawings and designs, as well as practising his blackwork technique on synthetic skins.

After getting his first tattoo by Lee 5 years ago, his love for the profession was ignited; and the now 26-year-old Keiran is well on his way to becoming a promising tattooist himself, having lost his ink virginity in April 2024.

Keiran’s background as a personal trainer gives him invaluable experience working one-on-one successfully with clients. His friendly nature, ever-present smile and keenness to do his best at everything make him the perfect addition to our team at Avant Garde. He shares a penchant for Pokémon with Dirtnap and takes Lee’s banter like a champ. We just know you’ll love him as much as we do.

You can check out his work on Instagram. Feel free to get in touch if you would like to experience some of his early works during his apprenticeship to becoming a formidable tattoo artist.

Rosie Todman

Tattoo Artist

Rosie is a Cheltenham based tattoo artist specialising in fine line, illustrative, ornamental, black and grey and colour tattooing. Every tattoo is uniquely custom designed for each client, creating personal pieces that flow naturally with the body while still making a statement.

Inspired by florals, mythology, movement and emotion, Rosie creates bespoke tattoos ranging from delicate fine line work to larger custom compositions, all approached with creativity, precision and care.

Alongside decorative tattooing, Rosie also offers mastectomy and freckle tattooing in a whimsical private room where clients can feel relaxed, comfortable and also fully involved in the creative process, bringing your tattoo ideas to life.