Saint John, NB, has a thing for ink. For a city of just over 70,000, its tattoo scene punches well above its weight, with a staggering number of shops dotting the uptown core and beyond. From hyper-detailed realism to old-school flash, fine-line florals to bold, black-and-grey sleeves, you’ll find every style imaginable. But why does this historic port city have such a deep connection to the tattoo world? The answer, as with most things in Saint John, is rooted in a mix of blue-collar grit, maritime tradition, and an unshakable sense of identity.
Inked, Anchored, Adored
A History Written in Ink
Tattoos and ports go hand in hand. For centuries, sailors have returned from voyages with intricate tattoos, each one a marker of where they’d been, what they’d survived, or simply a superstition for protection at sea. Saint John, as Canada’s oldest incorporated city and a working port since the 1700s, was no exception. Early tattooing in the city likely mirrored that of other maritime hubs—think anchors, swallows, and nautical stars, etched onto the skin of men who spent months, sometimes years, at sea. While Saint John’s shipbuilding industry isn’t what it once was, that rugged, seafaring energy still lingers, and so does the ink.
The Modern Boom
Fast forward to today, and tattoos are no longer just for sailors and rebels. They’re mainstream—more art than outlaw. Saint John, long a city of creatives and tradespeople, has fully embraced this shift. The result? A proliferation of high-quality shops, each with its own aesthetic, specialty, and loyal clientele.
Saint John is home to several standout tattoo studios, each offering a unique take on the art of ink. Northern Sword Tattoo, boasting over 35 years of combined experience, provides a variety of styles to suit different tastes. Crystal Rose Tattoo, located at 89 Canterbury Street, specializes in custom designs and takes bookings via direct message. Jake J Tattoos, run by Jake Jeffrey, offers personalized tattoo services and regularly showcases his work on Facebook. High Tides Tattoo, situated at 358 Rothesay Ave, features multiple artists skilled in a range of styles. Dark Instinct Tattoo Studio, led by artist Kassandra Ketchum, is known for its distinctive designs, adding to the city's vibrant tattoo culture.
A City That Wears Its Story
Saint John is a city of storytellers—its streets, its pubs, its people all carry layers of history. Tattoos fit right in. They’re personal markers, permanent records of love, loss, joy, and self-expression. And in a city where heritage is everything, it makes sense that so many people choose to wear their own personal histories on their skin.
Of course, the sheer number of shops also speaks to another Saint John reality: affordability. While larger cities like Toronto and Vancouver can demand astronomical shop rates, Saint John remains relatively accessible, making it an attractive home base for artists looking to build a name for themselves without breaking the bank. That affordability extends to clients as well—getting high-quality ink in Saint John is often significantly cheaper than in bigger metropolitan areas, without any sacrifice in talent.
Thinking About Getting Inked?
Whether you’re a first-timer or a collector looking to add to your canvas, Saint John’s tattoo culture has something for everyone. Uptown shops often book up fast, so if you’re eyeing a piece, it’s best to schedule well in advance. Walk-ins are still possible at some studios, but the best artists? They’re in high demand.
So, why does Saint John have so many tattoo shops? Maybe it's the maritime heritage. Maybe it's the influx of young creatives. Maybe it's just that the city, in all its gritty charm, has always been a place where people wear their stories for the world to see—sometimes in ink, sometimes in scars, but always with pride.
One thing’s for sure: in Saint John, skin tells a story. What’s yours?
