Tattoos and tattoo artwork have become part of mainstream culture. Many tattooists have moved beyond the artwork they tattoo onto skin to creating bodies of personal artwork more likely to be viewed in a gallery than a tattoo studio. Art by Tattooists is the first book to showcase this art.

The book features 26 international artists who use a variety of mediums, including ink, watercolour, acrylic paint, oil and lino printing. Many of the artists are heavily influenced by the imagery they use as tattooists – roses, hearts, skulls, scrolls, birds, pin-ups – and carry this into their personal work. Other work features colours, themes or subject matter that is more subtly related to tattooing.