Simon Mora is the blackwork artist making waves and winning awards for his incredible horror-themed blackwork!

Based in his very own The Other Side studio in Liverpool, UK, Simon’s work varies between realism, surrealism and pop culture themes but is always creepy!

We spoke to Simon about opening his own studio, the secrets of “calligraffiti”, and how it felt to win 1st place in Best Blackwork at the Docks Expo!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I specifically wanted to be Fireman Sam, but would have settled for being a regular firefighter. It’s a profession I still respect above all others to this day!

How did you get started as a tattoo artist?

Pretty cliché stuff unfortunately! Like most of my fellow artists I failed to become an adult, so I fumbled my way through two questionable apprenticeships and vowed to quit the industry forever. Then I realised it was and still is the only thing I’m truly passionate about, so I had to self teach my way up the ladder, and I never looked back.

Who helped or inspired you the most at the beginning of your career?

My biggest inspiration in art is the immortal GodMachine. He was the reason I got into graphic design before learning to tattoo, and his influence is clear as day to see in my work! I was always in awe of the way he would create the most insanely detailed work using painfully outdated software just because that’s what he knew and loved.

That concept of “you don’t need the best, just create with what you’ve got” really stuck with me through some rough patches along the road.

When did you open The Other Side, and who works there with you?

I originally opened The Other Side in April 2023 as a small place to start fresh. Unexpectedly, we grew really fast, so I partnered up with an old friend Bam Roberts and we’ve just opened the doors of the bigger and better Other Side with our friends 1 4 Sorrow, Sam Griffiths, Emeritus Tattoo and Novan Hollow.

There’s also room for one more lost soul if we can find the right weirdo to match our vibe!

What is “Calligraffiti”?

Short version… it’s the strokes/patterns of calligraphy combined with the freedom of graffiti.

You don’t have to spell words or stick to any style rules, just learn the basics of calligraphy and make the rest up as you go!

Would you say you have a “signature style” or technique?

It’s gotta be the ‘whippy circles’ like I’ve said before! I’m pretty confident I never pioneered the style, it’s been done before by many others but it’s a technique I stumbled upon myself in practice and I’ve used it in 80% of my custom pieces for over a decade now!

Are there any other styles you’d like to experiment with?

Like all artists I get urges to try something new on a weekly basis, but I still feel I’ve got a lot to learn in my own field before I’m truly happy with my work. So, for now, I’m 100% blackwork focused!

Do you prefer working from pop culture like The Simpsons or making your own original designs?

Over the past few years I’ve leaned way more into my weird custom work, so it’s definitely the thing I love doing the most. But I do still hold a strong love for throwing my style all over a pop culture request, especially the Simpsons!

Do you ever work with colour, or prefer to avoid it completely?

I love getting carried away with texture and the challenge of creating tones with just lines and dots. That’s what I look forward to, so the idea of just packing different colours to create detail doesn’t interest me. I’d rather recommend a sick colour artist for the customer to go to than just do it half assed for the money.

Do you ever work on collaboration pieces? And is there anyone you’d like to collaborate with?

I haven’t for a very long time but it’s something I’m really eager to get back into.

I’ve recently been talking with Trashlight Taz about doing a collaboration soon so hopefully more will follow!

What is your favourite tattoo you’ve done in the last year?

It’s got to be my competition piece for the Docks Tattoo Expo! Winning 1st place in Blackwork at my hometown show after a rough 3 year climb up from rock bottom really meant more to me than I can explain. So that piece will always be special to me!

Is there anything you’ve always wanted to tattoo but haven’t had the chance?

I’ve honestly tattooed pretty much everything! Every part of the human anatomy, tried almost every style, experienced every tattoo cliché, every single tat-trend from 2010 onwards!

I really do struggle to think of things that I haven’t tattooed without getting obscure.

Can you tell us a bit about the process of working on the piece you won Best Blackwork for at The Docks Expo?

So I designed the piece as a modern version of a painting I did back in 2012, of an animal and human skull merged together.

We did the outline a week before the convention and then sunk around 7 hours of detail into it on the day before the judging at the end of the show.

There were some incredible pieces in the Blackwork category though, I honestly didn’t think I was taking home anything!

Can you talk us through your workstation please?

I’m currently running an FK Irons Flux Max and it’s an absolute powerhouse machine! I tested one for Killer a year or so ago and had no choice but to buy one as soon as I gave it back!

I also exclusively use KWADRON cartridges as they are hands down the best quality needles money can buy on the market right now!

And as always I use Dynamic Black Ink and nothing else!

What’s your ideal tattoo session like? Do you enjoy a chat, or prefer music or movies?

I can’t tattoo without music, I can’t do anything without music haha so I love to stick a playlist on and chat shit with my customers about what games or movies they’re into.

Fair warning to first timers, the banter is pretty strong in The Other Side and definitely for mature audiences only! But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How many tattoos do you have, and do you have a favourite?

My current favourite is my face blastover by Charlie Gates and I couldn’t even begin to count the rest! I’m pretty heavily tattooed but somehow still have gaps, so I’m making a concerted effort this year to fill them all!

 Which artists are doing incredible work right now?

Charlie Gates and Ellen Heald are absolutely destroying the dark ornamental game in the UK right now.

Wyldish Bambino and Gareth Bannister are doing big bits on the local trad scene.

And last but not least, Novan Hollow and Cal Ramsey are two apprentices to watch! Big things coming from both of those dudes!

What do you enjoy doing outside of tattooing?

I’m a big gamer! From table top role play to console and everything in between! Any free time not spent doing something creative is spent gaming.

You could even say I don’t have a life outside of work haha!

Do you have any conventions or guest spots lined up for 2024?

Nothing set in stone yet but I’m dying to check out what Grace Neutral has done with her new space so I’m gonna try and make it down for a spot there towards the end of the year, and I’m also looking to book a table at one of the UK Halloween conventions but haven’t had a chance to look into it yet.

What does the future hold for Simon Mora?

Not to sound dramatic but I am the living embodiment of wasted potential! I’ve spent a lot of my life saying I'm gonna do stuff and never following through. So my future plans are just to push everything I do as far as I can and actually see what I'm capable of achieving!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our chat with Simon Mora! Make sure to check out more of his work on Instagram or Facebook, and think about booking in for one of his unique blackwork pieces!

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