Old City Tattoo

Old City Tattoo is located in Nanaimo, British Columbia, in the city's historic Old City Quarter. The studio is owned and operated by artist Joel Lee, a Nanaimo native known for creating custom, one-of-a-kind body art with a strong focus on detail and perfectionism. Joel specializes in a wide range of custom work, including memorial pieces for loved ones, realistic animal landscapes, deep-sea underwater scenes, and fantasy-inspired designs. Rather than working from stock designs, he sits down with each client individually to talk through their ideas and develop artwork tailored to their vision and the specific placement on the body.

The studio is known for its comfortable, professional environment, giving clients a relaxed space to collaborate on their tattoo before the needle ever touches skin. Consultations with Joel are available by appointment, allowing prospective clients to discuss concepts and design details ahead of their session. Old City Tattoo is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm and closed Sundays and Mondays. For anyone in the Nanaimo area seeking thoughtfully designed, custom tattoo artwork built around personal meaning and craftsmanship, Old City Tattoo offers a dedicated, artist-led approach from start to finish.