With Halloween in the air and the nights growing longer, we sat down with Hellie (@hellie_tattoo), a tattoo artist known for their hauntingly beautiful gothic designs. From black cathedrals to velvet-dark snakes, her work blurs the line between fear and beauty — a perfect reflection of the season. In this interview, Hellie talks about her love of the gothic aesthetic, the thrill of Halloween, and how she translates darkness into art.
What first pulled you toward the gothic aesthetic?
Architecture, without a doubt. I’ve always loved the darkness and beauty of gothic cathedrals and buildings. Growing up, the cathedral in my hometown (Clermont-Ferrand, France) was the place to hang out, and it left a huge mark on me. It’s such a unique building, built from black lava rock, and I think that combination of mystery, shadow, and grandeur made the gothic aesthetic feel special and natural to me from the start.
In goth culture, there’s a constant play between beauty and darkness. How do you capture that tension in your tattoo work?
My work is bold, but I always try to frame that boldness with elegance. I use symmetry and placement to contour the body, almost like building architecture on skin. The heavy black becomes more than just shadow, it turns into an ornament, a piece of body decoration that feels like jewelry, but with a sharp, gothic edge.
I think that comes quite naturally to me, because before becoming a tattoo artist I was a fashion designer. In a way, I’ve always been dressing people: first with clothing, now with tattoos. The medium has changed, but the intention is the same — to create something that adorns, enhances, and gives presence to the person wearing it.
When you design a gothic cathedral tattoo, do you draw inspiration from real buildings or invent your own haunted architecture?
It’s a mix of both. I love seeing real architecture and taking inspiration from it, but I push it further, spires get taller, arches more dramatic, windows more mysterious. The cathedrals become bigger than life, haunted, and entirely their own.
What personal meanings do gothic cathedral tattoos carry for your clients?
For most, it’s the aesthetic. The designs feel like a jewel on the body, gothic, but with a delicate, classy beauty. They carry weight and atmosphere without needing to be literal; it’s about elegance, drama, and the sense of wearing something timeless.
“I use symmetry and placement to contour the body, almost like building architecture on skin”
Looking back at your work, are there designs you consider ‘classics’?
Definitely. Gothic cathedrals and stained-glass architecture are at the core of my style, and black snakes — bold, velvet-black, venomous and sexy — are another I return to again and again. Rats have become a symbol in my work too, along with black floating castles that feel half-real, half-dream. And of course, skulls and bats — they’re classics, but they’re classics for a reason, and they’ll always hold their power.
Skulls are another iconic symbol of Halloween and goth culture. How do you approach designing one that feels fresh, personal, and striking?
I like to make them sharp, spiky, and gothic — decaying teeth, pointed roots, and bold black shading. Most of my skulls carry a personal touch, like a scar on the eye, and I often pair them with elements like cigarette and smoke or snakes wrapped around them. It’s about keeping them dark, dramatic, and distinctive.
If you could create the ultimate Halloween skull tattoo, what mood, details, or companions would you include and why?
I’d go for a vampire skull with haunted vibes, maybe with blood drops or wings. Dark and dramatic, but still elegant, the kind of design that feels alive and carries that gothic Halloween energy without being over the top.
If you could dream up your ideal horror story, what elements would it have?
It would be set in an abandoned city swallowed by the swamp, where the air is heavy with mist and silence. Vampires would rule the place, not just monsters, but dangerous, magnetic presences. The mood would be slow dread building into sudden shocks, more psychological than gory. I love horror that’s terrifying but also a little sexy, where you’re as drawn to the darkness as you are afraid of it.
Halloween is often a time when people who feel ‘othered’ or marginalised can safely express themselves. Do you agree, and if so, how does that show up?
Yes, absolutely. For me, Halloween is a moment when the rules loosen and people suddenly feel freer to go all out without judgment. The whole atmosphere becomes like a stage where everyone can play, be bold, or just be wonderfully weird. Living in that setting is contagious — it makes me want to dress up too and dive into the spectacle.
But beyond the costumes and fun, I think Halloween has always been the celebration of “the others”: the dead, the witches, the vampires, the werewolves — all those figures society usually fears, rejects, or pushes aside. In that sense, it’s the night of the so-called monsters, the ones who don’t fit into the norm. That’s why it resonates so strongly with people who have ever felt different or marginalised: for one night or a full month, they can take center stage and be celebrated.
When you think of Halloween, what’s the one thing that still gives you a thrill?
For me, it’s always the atmosphere. I love when the weather turns gloomy and the air feels heavier, it sets the perfect mood. I get a kick out of seeing houses dressed up with decorations, and I always make a point of scaring myself with horror films. It’s that mix of eerie calm and playful fear that still excites me every year.
"Halloween has always been the celebration of ‘the others’: the dead, the witches, the vampires, the werewolves — all those figures society usually fears, rejects, or pushes aside"
What can we find you doing this Halloween?
This Halloween, I’ll be tattooing for a special flash day, wearing a costume, and then probably at home with my partner and our three spooky cats, watching horror movies and devouring sweets. A mix of work, fun, and a little scary indulgence — my kind of night!
See more of Hellie's work @hellie_tattoo