RYAN EVANS

Ryan Evans tattoo artist

With more than 15 years’ experience, Ryan is an internationally acclaimed tattoo artist known for his perfectionism in black and grey realism, particularly his lifelike portrait pieces. His work is defined by smooth shading, balanced contrast, and long-term durability - qualities that have earned him top international awards and a devoted following.

After tattooing in the US and Europe for several years, Ryan returned home to New Zealand to establish The Brave. While he is best known for his large-scale and portrait work, Ryan is always open to new ideas, big or small, and welcomes all enquiries.

    • Best of Day - International London Tattoo Convention, UK

    • Best International Artist - Liverpool Tattoo Convention, UK

    • Show Winner Large Black & Grey - Big North Tattoo Show, UK

    • Best of Day - Brighton Tattoo Convention, UK

    • Best Small Colour - North East Tattoo Expo, UK

    • Best Small Black & Grey, Second Place - North East Tattoo Expo, UK

    • Untied Kingdom - International London Tattoo Convention, Liverpool Tattoo Convention, Big North Tattoo Show, Brighton Tattoo Convention, North East Tattoo Expo, Tattoo Tea Party Manchester, Bristol Tattoo Convention, Tattoo Collective London

    • Europe - International Amsterdam Tattoo Convention, Krakow Tattoofest, Warsaw Tattoo Convention, Tattoo Expo Zwickau

    • Australasia - NZ Tattoo & Art Festival

  • For Ryan’s media appearances and interviews, visit our NEWS page.

Close-up black and white photo of a man's face with long hair, a ring on his finger, and an intense expression, biting his finger.
Black and gray tattoo of a sailing ship, ocean waves, and a woman's face on a person's arm.
Black and gray tattoo of a human skull under a hand on upper arm.
A detailed black and white tattoo of an older man with a beard, smirking and holding up his middle finger. The background has tattoo-style illustrations of a sun, an anchor, and flowers.
A detailed tattoo of a grimacing, ancient-looking mythological creature with wrinkles and a beard.
Tattoo of a bulldog dog's face on a person's arm, featuring realistic shading and details.
Tattooed legs featuring multiple black and gray realistic portraits of women.
Tattoo of a warrior skeleton in a helmet with intricate details.
Black and grey tattoo sleeve featuring a woman's face with makeup and headscarf, and another woman in vintage attire with platinum hair, possibly inspired by classic Hollywood or vintage pin-up style.
Black and white detailed full-back tattoo of space exploration themes, including an astronaut helmet, a spacecraft, planets, stars, and cosmic elements.
Black-and-gray tattoo of a lion's face at the top, followed by a lioness with two cubs.
A detailed black and gray tattoo of a skull with a sword piercing through it, surrounded by clouds, waves, and a ship in the upper left corner.
Photorealistic black-and-white tattoo of a woman's face with her hair slicked back and a piercing gaze.
Tattoo sleeve featuring a bird, a bee, and a butterfly in black and gray realism style.
Black and white tattoo of a man with slicked-back hair and an intense expression, pointing a finger toward the viewer.
Close-up of a tattoo of an elderly man's face, showing detailed wrinkles, white hair, and facial features in black and gray realism style.
Tattoo of children, a dog, a lion, and constellations in a cosmic theme.
Tattoo of a woman singing with a microphone, with a larger, detailed image of the same woman behind her.
Black and gray detailed tattoo of a woman with curly hair, standing and looking upward, with a city skyline in the background
A detailed black and white tattoo of a zombie-like face with hollow eyes, decayed skin, and an open mouth, with a skeletal hand pointing at the face.
Black and grey tattoo of a woman's face with styled hair, smiling slightly, wearing a jacket with a collar.
Black and gray realistic tattoo of an older man's face with wrinkles, a beard, and short hair.
Black and white tattoo of a skull with a long beard and a sword on a person's arm, with a background of a starry sky.
Black and gray tattoo of a woman with glasses, detailed facial features, and a patterned collar.
A detailed black and gray tattoo of an elderly man with gray hair and a serious expression, reaching out with his hand.
Black and gray tattoo of a woman's face with hair covering one eye, winking, holding a cigarette, and wearing dark nail polish.
Tattoo of a skull with red glowing eyes, draped in a hood, with skeletal hand gestures.
Black and gray tattoo of a woman's face with platinum blonde, wavy hair, expressive eyes, and slightly parted lips.
Detailed black and gray tattoo of Queen Elizabeth II, including her face, crown, earrings, and necklace.
Black and gray tattoo sleeve featuring a human skull, ropes, and decorative patterns.
Close-up of a black and gray realistic tattoo of an older man's face with a cigarette in his mouth and a serious expression.
Black and white portrait photo of a woman with long blonde hair, smiling, showing her teeth.
Black and white tattoo of an indigenous person's face wearing traditional jewelry and a headband with leaves and feathers.
A detailed black and gray tattoo of a wrinkled face with half the face appearing serious and the other half with a slight smirk, on a person's arm.
A detailed black-and-white tattoo of a man's face with a beard and mustache, showing a serious expression. The tattoo captures realistic features with shading and texture.
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