Playful and Meticulous: An Interview with Chloe Mickham

Chloe Mickham on her craft, her philosophy and returning home to Paris for the next chapter.
Where did your passion for tattooing begin? Was there a particular moment or time you first felt drawn to the art?
My passion for tattooing grew naturally from my love of drawing and illustration. As a child, I was always fascinated by people with tattoos. I’d draw on my friends’ arms at school, sketch tattoos on my dolls, and I’d admire the tattoos on my favourite bands. That fascination deepened during my graphic design studies, when I started discovering tattoo artists whose black line work genuinely inspired me. Things became more serious when friends began asking me to help design their tattoos, and I thought: why not do them myself? It was a long journey, but I finally took the leap when I moved to London.
Does your tattoo style say anything about who you are as a person?
I think it does. My style is illustrative and meticulous, I care deeply about details but I also try to keep a sense of softness and simplicity in every design. Those who know me would say these are very much my traits as a person too, my work tends to move between two worlds: the sentimental and meaningful on one side, and the playful, quirky and lighthearted on the other. More than anything, I just love making people smile. If someone leaves the studio feeling genuinely happy, that means everything to me.
If you had to pick, what's one of your favourite pieces you've tattooed?
It’s incredibly hard to choose just one, but pet portraits will always hold a very special place in my heart. People love their pets like family, and when they come into the studio and share their stories, there’s a real emotional depth to those sessions. Each one feels unique and deeply personal, and it’s a privilege to be trusted with something so sentimental
Has there been one particular moment in your tattooing career that you're most proud of?
What means the most to me is seeing someone’s face light up when they look at their finished tattoo for the first time. Whether it’s a deeply meaningful piece tied to something they’ve been through, or simply a fun idea that made them laugh, it always means the world to me. Knowing that your art has brightened someone’s day or marked an important chapter of their life, is an incredibly humbling and rewarding feeling. Those moments remind me exactly why I do this!
Many artists have a philosophy about their work or why they create. Do you have one?
My philosophy is that a tattoo should feel true to the person wearing it. I want every piece I create to be an honest reflection of who that person is, whether it carries deep meaning or simply brings them joy. I approach every design with the same care and attention, because every piece deserves that dedication, regardless of its size or complexity. Art should connect people, make them feel something, and a tattoo does that in the most permanent and personal way possible.
What are your favourite parts about the tattoo industry, and how do you feel about its future?
What I love most is how tattooing connects people. Through this industry, you meet artists from all over the world, different cultures, different techniques, different visions, and there’s a genuine generosity in the way knowledge and inspiration are shared. It’s a craft that constantly pushes you to grow. As for the future of tattooing, I feel optimistic. It has grown into a truly respected art form and styles will keep evolving. As long as it stays true to that human connection, and mutual respect between artists and clients, and between artists themselves, I think its future is a beautiful and special one
How do you handle the booking side of things day-to-day? Has your workflow changed much since you started using Tattoodo
Tattoodo has made a real difference in how I manage my bookings day to day. It’s brought a much clearer structure to the process, and its been a genuinely useful tool for growing my practice in a more organised way.
Do you have any projects, events or plans coming up that you'd like to share?
I have some big and exciting news, I’m planning to move back to my hometown, Paris, after many years of calling London home. Both cities mean so much to me, so rather than choosing between them, I’m hoping to stay connected to both. I’m forever committed to my clients in the UK who have supported me throughout my journey here, and at the same time, I’m really excited about this new chapter and meeting new people in Paris. The best is yet to come!









