London Tattoos

These electrifying portraits by acclaimed photographer Alex MacNaughton prove in the most eloquent way that tattoos are more than skin deep.

The centuries-old art of tattooing has become one of the modern world’s most exciting modes of self-expression. Fascinated by the ways body art reflects an individual’s personality, MacNaughton set out to find people whose ornate tattoos tell a story. The result is a wonderfully dynamic collection of portraits that uniquely celebrates the art of tattooing. Each individual is introduced through a full-body, full-page photograph, showcasing the fashion and style which complement the body art. MacNaughton presents gorgeously detailed images of the tattoos themselves, accompanied by personal reflections on the subjects’ choice of tattoos, the stories behind them, and the tattoo artists they admire most. The result is a beautiful, sensitive, and exciting exploration of the world of body art, from one of the most successful photographers of urban life.