About
Me

My name is Nick. Born and raised in Ghent, Belgium.

 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawing. It’s the one thing that never left me. day in, day out. I was fortunate to grow up in an environment that encouraged creativity. From a young age, I took drawing classes, and as soon as I could, I went to art school.

 

In 2014, I began my studies at LUCA School of Arts in Ghent, where I pursued a Master’s in Visual Arts. There, I immersed myself in disciplines such as graphic design, photography, film, painting, printmaking, and life drawing, while diving deep into philosophy, art history, and visual research. But outside the classroom, I was drawn to a different world: tattoos, graffiti, and street culture. Spending time with skaters, graffiti crews, and people who lived by their own rules taught me more about the real world than any academic lecture ever could.

 

My fascination with Sak Yant tattoos began after a trip to Thailand, where I was tattooed in Bangkok. That experience sparked a deep respect for the spiritual and cultural dimensions of tattooing, a craft built on centuries of ritual and meaning. I began researching, tracing designs, and teaching myself the fundamentals, first on pigskin with handmade tools. My early work drew heavily on Asian iconography: Tibetan, Buddhist, Hindu, and Japanese influences. As well as medieval European woodcuts, a natural reflection of growing up in Ghent, one of Europe’s most medieval cities and once a trade hub that rivaled Paris.

 

In 2016, I began a proper apprenticeship at Noir, learning from the old-school guard, those who carried the torch of traditional tattooing. At the same time, I was completing my master’s degree in painting. Eventually, I realized that tattooing wasn’t just something I loved, it was my purpose. I left the academic path before graduation and devoted myself fully to the craft.

 

Today, I’m a full-time independent tattoo artist. I run my own studio, Donker, in the city center of Ghent a space I share with three fellow craftsmen and a piercer, as well as a private studio in Gentbrugge, for those seeking a more intimate session or traveling from afar.

 

Describing my “style” has always been difficult. I’ve never liked that word. I try not to be a one-trick pony. My work evolves with my moods and obsessions, drawing from history, mythology, occult symbolism, horror films, street culture, heavy metal, biker aesthetics, and underground art. Everything dark, everything sacred, everything real.

 

Over the years, I’ve traveled the world in search of knowledge to bring depth and authenticity to my work. I’ve collaborated with incredible artists, tattooed for one night inside the oldest museum in Belgium (MSK) and at the Krook public library in Ghent, participated in countless events, and had my work featured in films and television series. I’ve worked with bands and musicians, taken part in major conventions, guested internationally, and tattooed renowned artists across different industries. Yet through it all, I strive to remain humble. to let the work speak for itself, and to make sure everyone feels welcome.

 

My goal is simple: to create tattoos that feel timeless. Crafted with intention, respect, and devotion to both the wearer and the art itself.

 

Whoever you are, I will do everything I can to create a piece that’s truly yours, with a touch of Nickskin.

 

Everyone is welcome.

I look forward to tattooing you.

 

— Nick