Sponsored Artist Spotlight: Kyle Howe

This week, we’re featuring Kyle Howe, the artist behind @chewstattoos. Kyle is a highly versatile tattoo artist with a particular passion for black and grey tattooing, known for creating everything from realistic roses to bold traditional clipper ships.

His work stands out for its smooth shading, rich contrast, and the creative freedom that comes from refusing to be defined by a single style.

About Kyle Howe

Kyle’s journey into tattooing is a brilliant example of how creativity can shape an unexpected career path. Although he originally wanted to become an art teacher, life led him into engineering instead. Even while working full-time, Kyle never stopped drawing and continued to create art whenever he had the chance.

After several jobs that felt unfulfilling, some of Kyle’s artwork was shown to one of the North East’s most respected tattoo artists, who would later become his mentor. Kyle describes this opportunity as a dream come true and believes it completely changed the course of his life.

Nine years later, Kyle now runs his own tattoo studio alongside his partner, and together they are helping shape the next generation by training their own apprentice.

With plans to expand further and take part in guest spots and tattoo conventions, Kyle’s career continues to grow from strength to strength.

What makes Kyle’s story particularly inspiring is his openness about being AuDHD diagnosed. His experience highlights how neurodivergent minds often bring exceptional creativity, focus, and original thinking to artistic professions.

Follow Kyle’s Work

To see more of Kyle’s tattoos and latest projects, follow him on Instagram at @chewstattoos.

Black and Grey Tattoos and Creative Versatility

Kyle has a special love for black and grey tattooing, where smooth shading and strong healed contrast are essential. At the same time, he believes one of the greatest joys of tattooing is variety.

Rather than limiting himself to a single niche, Kyle enjoys moving between realism, traditional tattooing, and many other styles. One day he may be creating a highly detailed rose, and the next a classic clipper ship.

This versatility keeps his work exciting and allows him to continually develop new techniques and creative ideas.

Kyle’s Favourite Tattoo Products

Kyle’s setup is built around products that deliver consistent healed results, smooth shading, and precise detail.

Dynamic Black Triple Black

Dynamic Black Triple Black is Kyle’s preferred black ink for its rich, deep healed tone and excellent saturation. It is a trusted choice among professional tattoo artists, particularly for black and grey work where bold contrast is essential.

Did you know? Dynamic Black Triple Black is especially popular for cover-ups and designs that require a strong, solid black finish.

Kuro Sumi Grey Wash System

For soft and seamless shading, Kyle relies on the Kuro Sumi Grey Wash System. This pre-mixed set helps artists create smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradients, making it ideal for black and grey realism tattoos. You can find Kuro Sumi Imperial Tattoo Ink - Fine Line Black.

Apex Cartridges

Kyle also uses Apex Cartridges, which have become a key part of his setup.

The consistency and precision of Apex Cartridges make them particularly effective for detailed linework and smooth black and grey shading.

Products Inspired by Kyle’s Setup

If you’d like to explore the products Kyle uses in his day-to-day work, take a closer look at:

• Dynamic Black Triple Black
• Kuro Sumi Grey Wash System
• Apex Cartridges

These trusted products help professional tattoo artists achieve bold blacks, soft shading, and precise detail across a wide range of tattoo styles.