Lu cornish @ Cornish ink
fine line tattoo artist in newquay, cornwall.
Original illustrative tattoos in a quiet, private studio in Newquay. Specialising in fine-line black and grey, whimsical botanical work, mermaids, folklore, feminine imagery and organic designs drawn to flow with the body.
From illustration to tattooing
If you’ve been here a while, you might know me as Lu Cornish.
I’ve spent years working as an illustrator, creating whimsical, feminine artwork that’s become very recognisably mine. In 2025, those drawings began finding a new home: skin.
Cornish Ink is the tattooing extension of my practice and something I’ve wanted to do since I was 17.
I’m now a tattoo artist working from a private studio in Newquay, Cornwall, bringing the same organic lines, storytelling, folklore and magic from my illustration work into tattooing.
My work leans towards fine-line, illustrative black and grey tattooing, but I’m always interested in an idea that feels like a good fit. You don’t need to arrive with a perfectly formed concept either. A vague idea, a collection of references or “I want something vaguely witchy and cool” is plenty to start a conversation.
A private tattoo studio, just for you
Getting a tattoo should never feel intimidating.
Cornish Ink is a small, private tattoo studio in a quiet location in Newquay. Appointments are one-to-one, so there aren’t other clients wandering through, multiple artists working around you or the pressure of a busy walk-in shop.
It’s your appointment. We can chat rubbish and overshare, listen to music, or keep things quiet. You can take a break when you need one.
I care enormously about the artwork, but I care about the experience of getting it too. I want you to feel comfortable asking questions or speaking up.
No ego. No conveyor belt. No judgement. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is safe to be themselves.
Just thoughtful tattooing, original artwork and time to do it properly.
Cornwall Council registered tattoo artist and premises.
FAQS
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Lu Cornish at Cornish ink tattoo studio
The Fruit Space
Springfield Road
Newquay
TR7 3FE
VIDEO HERE: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXo9HmLjL55/
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No - Cornish ink is strictly by appointment
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All enquiries and bookings are via https://venue.ink/@cornishink
You don’t need to know exactly what you want, there is zero pressure to book, just pop me a message and we will have a chat.
Please don’t DM me on socials re appointments, I’ll loose your message because I SUCK at inbox management. This way everything is in the same place and I can reply to people in order.
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Every tattoo is different, so pricing depends on the size, placement, detail and time involved.
My minimum studio charge is £50, which covers very small and simple tattoos. Most of my work is priced individually, and I’ll always give you a price or estimated range before you book.
As a rough estimate:
Most small/medium custom pieces fall between £80–£225
Full day: £350
Roughly 6 hours tattooing, with the appointment itself longer because of placement, stencil, breaks, photos etc.
Half day: £225 Roughly 3 hours tattooing with the appointment itself longer because of placement, stencil, breaks, photos etc.
Minimum charge: £50
I also regularly release pre-drawn flash designs at set prices, so keep an eye on my available designs if you’d like to know exactly what something will cost before falling in love with it.
If you have an idea in mind, send it over to venue.ink/cornishink with the approximate size and placement and I can give you a quote. 💙
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Yes. All appointments require a non-refundable booking deposit, which is deducted from the final cost of your tattoo. If a deposit hasn’t been paid, your appointment isn’t confirmed and won’t be added to my diary.
Further information regarding my policies are all here.
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YES. This is one of my absolute favourite parts of tattooing.
I was an illustrator long before I became a tattoo artist, so taking the little seed of an idea from someone’s brain and turning it into something completely original for their body is very much my happy place.
You absolutely don’t need to come to me with a perfectly formed idea. Give me a feeling, a story, a handful of references, something you love, or an unhinged sentence like “I want a sad mermaid with a massive sword” and let me run with it.
I specialise in whimsical, organic and illustrative work, particularly mermaids, feminine and feminist imagery, botanicals, folklore, nature and slightly strange little creatures, but I’m ALWAYS open to ideas outside of that world if you think I’m the right artist for you.
Every custom tattoo is drawn by me, for you. I won’t copy another tattoo artist’s work, but you’re very welcome to show me images to help communicate the kind of thing you’re drawn to.
Basically: bring me your idea. I want to hear it.
MESSAGE ME venue.ink/cornishink
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No.
Every tattoo is drawn by me, for you. I won’t copy another tattoo artist’s work, but you’re very welcome to show me images to help communicate the kind of thing you’re drawn to.
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No and yes… kinda.
I am happy to tattoo things like a loved one’s handwriting or a child’s drawing, for example. And I am also happy to use your design as a reference and work from it to create your tattoo design.
But I won’t tattoo a design line for line.
Before I was a practicing tattoo artist I designed several tattoos for clients to take to be tattooed elsewhere and they never come out how they were intended. It never does justice to either the design or the tattoo artist. Over the years I have found, saying yes to things that I don’t feel passionate about does a disservice to myself and my clients.
I am happy to work with any design then use my creative and tattoo experience to make something similar that will work on your skin and that I can do justice to.
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YES! I have been lucky enough to tattoo people visiting Cornwall from all over the world. Just make sure you have your ID with you.
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This depends on how booked up I am and how flexible you can be. My weekend and evening appointments can be booked up many months in advance.
The usual wait is around a month.
Weekday appointments are preferred. Saturday appointments are generally only available to full day sessions. I do not work Sundays.
All enquiries and bookings are via https://venue.ink/@cornishink
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Yes! My studio is completely private and appointments are one-to-one.
When you’re booked in with me, the space is yours. There aren’t other artists working around us, clients coming and going, or strangers watching you get tattooed. It’s tucked away in a quiet spot in Newquay and I’ve created it to feel calm, comfortable and very much not scary tattoo shop.
You can chat, overshare, listen to music, sit quietly, take breaks, bring snacks, ask a million questions or tell me you need five minutes. There is absolutely no expectation to behave a certain way or bravely suffer in silence.
I know getting tattooed can feel quite vulnerable, particularly if you’re anxious, neurodivergent or having an area of your body tattooed that you don’t normally have on display. I want you to feel safe, listened to and completely at ease in my space.
For the time you’re here, it’s your little tattoo bubble. 💙
All enquiries and bookings are via https://venue.ink/@cornishink
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Yes, very much so! Fine-line tattooing is at the heart of what I do, but perhaps not quite in the way people have come to expect from the term over the last few years.
“Fine-line” has started to mean teeny minimalist outlines, tiny symbols and delicate script. I’m absolutely happy to create those pieces, but my real passion is using fine lines to create detailed, illustrative artwork.
Think delicate rather than minimal. Beautiful details, soft shading, flowing lines, feminine forms, botanicals, creatures, mermaids and little worlds with plenty to look at, all with that lightness and delicacy I love about fine-line tattooing.
So yes, I do fine-line tattoos. I just like to give those fine lines a lot to say.
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Yes! Although colour isn’t my main speciality. My work leans towards fine-line black and grey, but I really enjoy working with colour when the right idea comes along.
Please do send me your idea and we can chat about it. I’ll always be open and honest about whether I think I’m the right artist for your piece, and if I think another artist could bring your idea to life better than I could, I’ll happily point you in their direction.
I’d much rather you end up with the best possible tattoo than take on something that isn’t right for me. 💙
All enquiries and bookings are via https://venue.ink/@cornishink
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You must be 18 years old or older in order to get a tattoo. No exceptions.
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Of course. You are so, so welcome here. 💙
You don’t need to pretend you’re not nervous, and there is absolutely no expectation to be “brave” for me. Whether it’s your first tattoo, you’re anxious about the pain, you’re worried about your body being on show, or you’re just generally a bundle of nerves, please tell me. I would always rather know so I can make things as comfortable as possible for you.
My studio is private and appointments are one-to-one, so we can take things at your pace. I’ll talk you through what’s happening, you can ask as many questions as you need, and we can take breaks whenever you want them.
You are also completely allowed to change your mind about size or placement, ask to move the stencil for the fourth time, need a minute, cry, laugh, swear, go quiet or talk absolute nonsense for three hours.
Being nervous is never an inconvenience. Looking after you and making you as comfortable as I can is part of my job.
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Yes.
My studio is small and can hold a maximum of three people (including me). You’re very welcome to bring someone (over 18), but it’s worth knowing that it can often feel more relaxed for you without a waiting guest. This appointment is all about you, and we want it to feel calm, easy, and unhurried and I will do anything I can to facilitate this.
More questions? Send me a message and I’ll be happy to answer them.
All appointment enquiries via https://venue.ink/@cornishink please 🫶