Shaun Bonanos

Seven Swords is in Cheltenham, UK, at the top of the High street, just behind St James car park. You'll see some stairs leading up to a set of shops, we're right at the end.

It's more the idea, placement and design than the style that appeals to me, but I love tattooing and designing floral, black & grey, Japanese and ornamental style designs.

If your idea can work over what you already have and you're open to suggestions on what will work well for the cover up then I'm always ready to take on a coverup.

All inks and products I use in the tattoo process are vegan friendly and cruelty free 🌱

Usually I work by appointment but if you're feeling spontaneous on the day there's no harm in phoning the studio to see if there's any space available.

No, we're not advised to offer or apply numbing agents before or during the process. If you feel you need to use numbing cream let me know in advance, many people apply numbing creams themselves before an appointment. It's advisable to only use creams that adhere to UK law and can be purchased over the counter. Always let your artist know if you'll be using a cream ahead of time, depending on the tattoo and area I like a heads up as it can make a difference to the process.

Make sure you get a good nights rest the night before, have a healthy breakfast and don't load up on caffeine or stimulants. Stay hydrated and it's always a good idea to bring some water or fruit juice with you to the appointment. Not getting too hyped up and anxious about getting tattooed helps too.

We'll go through individually tailored advice after the tattoo, covering how to look after it and do's and don'ts. Keeping the tattoo out of the sun and not soaking it in water for extended periods for a few weeks after the tattoo are standard though.

Getting tattooed is a personal experience and it's always better to come alone. If for some reason you need someone to accompany you please let me know beforehand.