I'm going to admit from the start that I don't have any pictures of my own to show because I haven't gotten any tattoos from Gabe (from Ace Dragon) or Leon (Shitoujii). I like going to this dude, Ricky, in the Philippines, because he's fantastic at the type of tattoos that I like (ornamental, traditional Chinese designs), and he's relatively inexpensive. Check out his work here!
Anyway, I did get a tattoo above my diaphragm in Hong Kong a few years back, but the dude who did it for me has disappeared. Plus, he does triad tattoos so I'm not sure if he tattoos civilians. I only got a booking with him because a girl friend of mine was dating some gangster-type, and she strong-armed him into tattooing me. He did a really great job although he kept telling me to hold my breath. I'm not a deep breather (long story), and I tend to take in quick, short breaths, and the rise and fall of my ribs was jostling his arm.
Anyway, I still thought I should mention Gabe and Leon even though I don't have any pictures. Gabe is quite famous, and he got a lot of attention when he inked David Beckham. I don't really know much about Beckham, nor do I actually know what Gabe did for him, but I guess it's a good endorsement of Gabe's skills.
Gabe did tattoo a friend of mine, and her tattoo (an ornate design of vines and flowers) looks really pretty, so that much I can say. You can find out more from his Web site here, although he hasn't really updated or done much with his gallery. His studio is in Tsim Sha Tsui, and the full address should be in the site somewhere.
Leon, on the other hand, is a friendly acquaintance of mine. I met him through a friend who was his client, and I have to say, Leon's work on my friend was breathtaking. He seems to really excel in big pieces, as well as delicate lines, plus he seems like he would be a really comfortable tattoo artist to hire. He's not an incessant chatterbox at all. Don't you hate tattoo artists (and dentists!) who won't shut up? I really much prefer the ones who stoically mind their own business. I went to this dude in London once, and while he was really talented, he talked so damn much! I just wanted to read my book in peace but he kept talking about the Eurostar and Ryanair.
Anyway, Leon's work can be viewed on his site here. His gallery is fairly comprehensive, although it doesn't seem like he's added any new work on.
He has a studio out in Mong Kok, just so you know. As far as I know, he charges around HKD1,000 per hour.
