Welcoming Our Next Guest Artist: Adrie!

By Bailey Jones

Meet Adrie, an Andalucía-born, Bristol-based illustrative blackwork artist! We fell in love with Adrie’s work when we found it on Instagram, and we couldn’t be happier to be inviting her to guest at Inkora this September. To understand more about the artist behind the art, keep reading and maybe even book yourself in for a tattoo?

Adrie busy tattooing

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m a Spanish-born and raised illustrator turned tattoo artist. With over 10 years of experience in drawing, I started tattooing professionally in Bristol, where I am now based. Before that, I lived in different parts of Spain, as well as Lisbon and Oxford.

My work focuses on illustrative blackwork, creating custom hand-drawn designs inspired by nature, particularly birds and mammals, often combined with botanical elements. I work closely with my clients to turn their ideas into bespoke, custom illustrative tattoos designed exclusively for them. I love balancing delicate compositions with darker, more distinctive details, while always keeping an organic, hand-crafted/sketch aesthetic.

When did your tattoo journey start?

I've always been around the tattoo industry. Most of my friends from university became tattoo artists, and I got my first tattoo when I was 25. Since then, they've been working hard to convince me to become a tattoo artist too!

One of my best friends eventually gifted me my own tattoo machine and started teaching me. This all started about two years ago, on and off, but life pushed me to take it more seriously once I moved to Bristol and joined my first studio.

What drew you to it as an art form?

My love for illustration, really. I always knew I would love to decorate people's bodies and help people feel more comfortable with themselves, whether that's through body confidence, self-esteem or embracing scars.

Tattoos are basically beautiful scars that you choose to have and bodies are my favourite canvas. And I still can't believe how lucky I am to meet people who travel, book time off work and make the effort to come and have my designs on their bodies forever. I feel deeply honoured every time.

Illustrative tattoo of female statue

From when you started, how did you go on to develop your style?

One of the things that led me to start tattooing was that I already had a style that translated quite naturally into tattoos. I used to have lots of people commission me to create custom designs that they would then take to their tattoo artist.

When I started tattooing, I just let my style develop naturally rather than trying to force it into something specific. My whole career as an illustrator really helped me develop the style I have now. I guess that’s why so many illustrators end up tattooing. It makes such a natural combination.

What has your tattoo journey looked like?

It’s been quite a fast journey since I started at my first studio. I honestly feel like I owe so much to the people who have trusted me along the way, and I'm amazed every time I get a new opportunity, a new guest spot or a new commission.

There was a difficult period halfway through where I struggled a little with some of the people around me, but it wasn't long before I found people who gave me so much advice and encouragement that I started to wonder if I had ever deserved to doubt myself in the first place.

I took those opportunities even when I felt scared, and somehow, they've brought me to where I am now. I feel enormously lucky and incredibly thankful.

Illustrative tattoo of a tarot card

Outside of tattooing, is there anything else creative you get up to?

Oh man, I love travelling. Art, museums... going for a walk around a city I've never been to before with my sketchbook, finding a café or restaurant by myself, doing some writing and sketching whatever catches my eye.

Tattooing actually gives me a chance to do more of that too. I have a list of cities I'd love to guest spot in and spend a few days exploring. Honestly, best plan ever.

When you’re not being creative, what do you get up to?

I’d say cooking and going to the gym are my two main non-creative hobbies, as they help me switch off.

I love putting my headphones on and making up a new recipe (maybe not always a successful one!) or going to the gym to lift some weights. You didn't see that coming, I know.

Is there anything else people should know about you?

I’m quite transparent and can sometimes come across as rude, but I'm actually just very shy.

Every appointment is a little exercise in opening myself up, because I can get quite awkward when I'm sharing a space with someone. So I tend to hide all those feelings behind a bit of humour and trying to make people laugh so they feel comfortable. And it works! My clients often come back, or bring their friends and family with them, which I absolutely love.

One silly question, if you were a type of bird, what bird would you be and why?

That’s very difficult... and not silly at all! I love birds (can’t you tell?) but I'm actually scared of heights. That's probably why I admire them so much: they look completely at home up there.

I think I would be a white stork. They're everywhere back home in Cádiz, and they migrate every year from Andalucía, my region, to Africa, before coming back again. They return to their roots, but they can't stay. And believe me, I know that feeling. I miss the sound they make with their beaks when late summer comes and the sun starts to disappear. You can look up and see them saying hello to you from the tops of the churches. I think that's a pretty good bird to be.

Illustrative blackwork tattoo of a deer

We’re sure that Adrie’s time at Inkora will be unforgettable, and you can help make it so! If you haven’t already, book in with Adrie here: https://www.inkora.studio/guest-artists-inkora and sport yourself a fine new tattoo, but you’ll have to beat us to it, since we’ve also got our eyes on some of her designs…

Catch Adrie at Inkora this September, and keep up to date with her work through her Instagram @adrietejero_tattoo!