Before he was known for his stunning black and grey tattoo work, Owen Paulls was living the dream of countless musicians, a life on the road keeping time behind the drum kit and performing across the world. For nearly two decades, the South Coast of England native toured as a professional drummer, spending four consecutive summers on the Vans Warped Tour between 2008 and 2013. When the final encore faded and life on the road slowed down, Paulls found a new rhythm in tattooing, one that would soon make him one of the most respected tattoo artists in the Pacific Northwest.
Now based in Bellevue and Seattle, Washington, Paulls has built a reputation for his smooth blending, intricate textures, and European-influenced realism. His tattoos are instantly recognizable for their emotion and technical precision, a reflection of the same creative discipline that once powered his music career.
“I think tattooing filled the same space that music used to,” Paulls says. “It’s about flow, balance, emotion, the only difference is now my canvas moves and breathes.”
Paulls began tattooing around 2012 and quickly found his calling. His mastery of black and grey realism has taken him around the world, earning multiple international awards including top honors at the Evergreen Invitational and Best of Day twice at the Winnipeg Tattoo Convention. His artistry has been featured in leading tattoo publications like Inked Magazine, Things & Ink, Freshly Inked, and Global Tattoo Mag, as well as endorsed by major industry brands such as Empire Inks, FYT Cartridges, and Ghostline.
Beyond tattooing, Paulls continues to nurture his love of fine art, creating oil paintings inspired by classical European traditions. His work has been showcased at acclaimed studios including Black Anchor Tattoo and Unit-01 in Los Angeles. That artistic foundation, combined with the sense of timing and composition honed from years behind the drums, gives his work a rhythm that’s as visual as it is emotional.
Whether he’s tattooing, painting, or teaching seminars on his signature black and grey style, Paulls approaches every project with the same drive that fueled his music career, creativity, precision, and authenticity. For fans who grew up immersed in both music and tattoo culture, his story feels like a natural evolution, a creative soul finding a new way to make art that lasts a lifetime.
Today, Owen Paulls tattoos full-time in the Seattle area, while traveling nationwide for conventions, guest spots, and educational workshops. His journey from the drum kit to the tattoo chair proves that true artistry doesn’t fade when the stage lights dim, it just finds a new spotlight.
Written by Robert Bradley
