"Alright? I’m Tommy (he/they) and i’m a queer/trans tattoo artist and multidisciplinary creative based in Brighton and London. I’m a resident tattoo artist at FORT (@fort.london)  — a sober, queer non-profit collective in London, and Top Boy Studio (@topboytattoo) in Brighton.

I started collecting tattoos when I was 16 but only picked up tattooing two years ago as (yet another ADHD) hobby, but this one quickly stuck and became my life. Since childhood, drawing had always been a safe space for me to escape to, but also a tool to express myself in ways that I couldn’t outwardly. Being brave enough to show the world my work, and having people wanting to permanently adorn their skin with my silly little drawings has given me unimaginable joy. My work has, I think, spoken to a lot of people in ways that I couldn’t have imagined and has helped me create and build community.

Collaborating with ASOS last year on their 2024 pride collection and seeing people wearing it all over the world has helped me see that the purpose of my work goes beyond individual tattoos or drawings and can be a way to connect, inspire and make visible the queer/trans experience.

I grew up in a small town in Essex and I had few safe spaces to exist as a queer child. My safe spaces were on the football pitch, or in my room drawing. I’m super passionate about creating safer environments for my clients now too and my practice is consent-led and trauma-informed, ensuring that every client feels seen and celebrated."

Image credit: El Dodds (@el__dodds)  

I have a deep rooted belief that tattooing is a form of gender-affirming care and a way to reclaim and recreate our bodies. The process of reclaiming and queering words, religious iconography and traditional tattoo designs are an important part of my work. I like to think of my work as fineline-traditional-meets-unapologetically-queer-and-sexy-meets-realism-meets-chrome-meets-chicano.

Unless I'm painting or making work digitally, I almost exclusively draw in black and blue biro. Whether working large scale or small. I love how simple and cheap the tool is, and using something as common as a bic biro pen to create stunning, hyper realistic and tonal pieces of work. I also come from a working class background, so being resourceful with the way I make art is important to me."

The idea of queerness being sacred and the reclamation of spiritual and religious symbols has been a big theme in my work. For a long time I felt disconnected from myself, and questioned what my place was in the world. I felt far away from ideas of ‘heaven’ and belonging, but relearning that community and home is something we build together has given me a new perspective on what those words mean to me.

Image credit: S Kilgannon (@alonglines)

It was through the FORT 2024 calendar project that I reconnected with these themes. I collaborated with another trans artist in response to the brief ‘we build our own heavens’ and this really put my work into perspective. The act of building together - art, homes, communities, and seeing transness as a sacred protected lived experience has been central themes in my work."

Press Play: Tommy Burley’s Playlist
Tommy Burley shares a selection of songs that inspire both his life and his art. These tracks reflect his journey, creativity, and the world he’s building through tattooing and queerness. 

Follow Tommy @squarepegtattoo