Our Favourite Tattoo Cover-up Transformation (Before and After)

Tattoos are an amazing form of artistic expression of who you are. But sometimes who you were 10 years ago does not reflect who you are now. Your old tattoo is no longer a reflection of you, and doesn’t feel like part of you. That’s when we come in to help!

Our client came to us, here at Devlin Ink Tattoos, with an old piece that had served its time. 

The Old Tattoo

The lines were tired, the design no longer reflected their style, and every glance at it was a reminder of a chapter they were ready to close.

The brief was simple but bold: total transformation, not disguise. They wanted something powerful, timeless, and unapologetically strong.

After discussing ideas, placement, and flow, one concept stood above the rest — a large-scale realism tiger. A symbol of strength, resilience, and control. Perfect not just visually, but emotionally.

The challenge with cover-ups is always respect: respecting the old tattoo while ensuring it disappears completely. Through careful planning, strategic depth, and controlled contrast, the original piece was methodically broken down and absorbed into the design. Darker tones were placed with intention, highlights drawn to command attention, and the tiger’s eyes became the focal point — sharp, alive, impossible to ignore.

Within a single tattoo session, the old tattoo faded into irrelevance by the hour. By the end of the day, what remained was something entirely new. The final result was more than a successful cover-up. It was a rebirth of the area. A statement piece that looks like it was always meant to be there. No trace of the past tattoo, no compromises in detail, and no hesitation in confidence.

This is why we love cover-ups at Devlin Ink, Colchester.

Not because it hides mistakes - but because it give a new and beautiful piece of art that reflects them in the present. It is something they can feel proud of again.

So if you’re ready to get a cover-up of an old tattoo that is not reflective of who you are, then please fill out the enquiry form listed below with some ideas of what you like and your current tattoo. Our specialist artists at Devlin Ink will respond to you as soon as possible to make your vision come to life.