Steven Espy grew up on Anna Maria Island and began tattooing in February 2020. Tattooing is what first pulled him into art, and he has been pushing himself to draw, learn, and improve ever since.
He is especially drawn to new school, neo-traditional, illustrative work, and black-and-grey realism. Some of his favorite projects involve candles, lanterns, moths, birds, flowers, horror imagery, and other creepy ideas. Steven works in both color and black and grey, tattoos pieces of all sizes, accepts cover-ups and walk-ins, and regularly has one-of-a-kind flash available.
For Steven, the best part of tattooing is the connection with the person wearing it. He likes helping clients turn a story or idea into something personal—whether the goal is to mark an experience, build confidence, or simply leave with a piece they love.
His design process starts with placement and size, then style, followed by the references that help him understand what the client responds to. Steven prefers to draw each design instead of treating the process like printing an image. He considers how the tattoo will move with the body, how color will work with the client’s skin tone, and how spacing and contrast will help the piece stay readable over time.
His advice to clients is simple: learn a little about the style you want, think about how tattoos age, and be ready to care for the piece after the appointment. As Steven puts it, “The end of the tattoo session is the beginning of the life of the tattoo.”
Steven’s rate is $200 per hour, with a $100 minimum.
To request a consultation or appointment with Steven at Oddity UTC / University Parkway, use the consultation form or call 941-358-6338.
