John Ronald Reul Tolkien was one of the most imaginative writers of his generation; a skilled linguist who created in-depth high fantasy worlds, complete with hand-drawn maps and multiple languages and religions.

As proud lovers of all things weird, nerdy and cool (by our standards), we’re honouring J.R.R. Tolkien on the 50^th anniversary of his death by bringing together some of our favourite tattoos inspired by The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

You shall not pass without checking out the list for The Lord of the Rings tattoo ideas - and maybe start planning your own unexpected journey!

Brad Wallis and Adrian de Largue - Hobbit Houses

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hold, and that means comfort.”

If you’re a Tolkien fan, you’ve probably fantasised about running away to live in a Hobbit hole with a well-stocked larder of bread and cheese! Brad Wallis’ detailed black and grey realism piece shows an opened front door beckoning you in, while Adrian de Largue created a woodcut-style image of the house with the Lonely Mountain and a very tiny Smaug in the background.

Nick Noonan & Dean Gunther - The Baddies

"My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"

The villains in Tolkien’s books are fascinating, varied, and generally pretty terrifying! Nick Noonan inked this incredible colour realism The Lord of the Rings tattoo sleeve featuring Sauron in his full armoured regalia during the War of the Last Alliance, mere moments before Isildur cuts the Ring from his finger. Lower down on the tattoo you can see an orc charging, and the battering ram Grond wreathed in flames. Dean Gunther took inspiration from The Hobbit to create a menacing colour realism Smaug, with a teeny tiny Bilbo at the bottom holding Sting.

Frank Carrilho and Goldsmith Tattooer - Narsil

“Renewed shall be blade that was broken.”

Competing for most famous sword of the series – against Sting, Glamdring, Orcrist, and the Morgul-blade – Narsil is the sword that destroyed Sauron, and is later reforged into Andúril. Frank Carrilho’s blackwork piece shows what appears to be a freshly shattered Narsil with its distinctive hilt and pommel. Goldsmith Tattooer took a traditional approach to his piece, showing just the top of the broken blade with a hint of blood on its shattered tip, among flowers.

Egon Weissberger & Eliot Kohek - The Balrog

"It was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it."

It’s not surprising that there are so many Balrog tattoos out there – for those of us who were blown away by The Fellowship of The Ring in the cinema, this was a moment of epic proportions. Egon Weissberger’s incredible full back piece shows the dramatic moment that Gandalf faces down Durin’s Bane on the bridge of Khazad-dûm. Eliot Kohek’s dark realism leg piece of the same monster shows him alone, stepping onto the bridge with his fiery whip held high – we love how Eliot used sections of intense white for the flames.

Void Vitriol & Peter Murray - The Witch-king

"Come not between the Nazgûl and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye."

Another incredibly popular motif for a Tolkien-themed tattoo is the Witch-king of Angmar. This Ringwraith haunts all three The Lord of the Rings films, nearly takes out Frodo, and ends up falling to the single woman and hobbit on the battlefield. Void Vitriol used his signature brutal medieval style to make this threatening blackwork piece, while Peter Murray took a neo-traditional approach, showing just the helmet and flail of the Lord of the Nazgûl.

J Becerra and Kyle Williams - Gollum

“Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature. I don’t know where he came from, nor who or what he was. He was Gollum.”

The unlikely hero of The Lord of the Rings saga, Gollum is a truly creepy creature in the throes of nightmarish insanity. J Becerra used his dark, gothic style to create the snarling Stoor Hobbit sat on his rock, holding the One Ring in his sneaky hands. Kyle Williams’ take on the character as played by Andy Serkis in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series is in faithful black and grey realism, but the detailed Ring below is just out of his reach…

Nastasya Naboka & Duda Lozano - Elves and Dwarves

"Such is the nature of evil. Out there in the vast ignorance of the world it festers and spreads. A shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was. So will it always be. In time all foul things come forth."

Lee Pace's adaptation of Thranduil arguably stole the show in many of The Hobbit's scenes - even if he acted as more of an antagonist than aide. Nastasya Naboka's stunning colour realism portrait of the character holding his sword is incredibly detailed, with the Elven runes etched out and a glittering effect on his coat. Duda Lozano, pioneer of the fabric patch tattoo, created this cartoon-style Gimli tattoo which is so lifelike and rich in detail you just want to pick at those loose threads!

David Barrera & Anrijs Straume - Gandalf

“I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.”

Ian McKellen’s interpretation of Gandalf is one that no one can take issue with – he truly embodied the character, and delivered some of the most iconic lines from both film trilogies. Here, David Barrera has made a colour realism portrait of the wizard holding his sword Glamdring, with a fiery Balrog lurking behind. Anrijs Straume applied his usual black and grey dark trash realism style to Gandalf holding his wooden staff, creeping it up a bit with these massive horns and soulless eyes.

Rossie de Medici & David Corden – Orcs and Uruk-hai

“Do you know how the Orcs first came into being? They were elves once, taken by the dark powers, tortured and mutilated. A ruined and terrible form of life. Now... perfected. My fighting Uruk-hai. Whom do you serve?”

Rossie de Medici created this terrifying black and grey realism portrait of Lurtz the Uruk-hai, complete with his unique upside-down white hand mark, while David Corden’s colour realism piece features the orc Bolg as featured in The Hobbit trilogy, staring out from this calf with blood dripping down his chin. 

Inal Bersekov & Matt Daniels - The One Ring

“One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them!”

This is the real main character of Tolkien’s books – the One Ring itself, forged by Sauron in the depths of Mount Doom to control all other Rings of power. Inal Bersekov uses the Ring at the centre of this black and grey realism piece showing both Arwen and Aragorn holding the reforged Andúril, while Matt Daniels loops a golden Ring around the shattered remnants of Narsil in his colourful pop culture-inspired style.

Miro Pridal & Steve Butcher - Allies

“Indeed I have not seen them roused like this for many an age. We Ents do not like being roused; and we never are roused unless it is clear to us that our trees and our lives are in great danger.”

Throughout the Fellowship’s adventures, they encounter friends and allies along the way. We loved this Fangorn – also known as Treebeard – by Miro Pridal from Jarda Tattoo for its rich illustrative textures, and this haunting colour realism portrait of the King of the Dead by Steve Butcher uses light to make his skeletal face almost seem to glow in a sickening way.

Carlos Fabra & Joanne Baker - Compositions

"Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the sea comes the end of our fellowship in middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil."

Finally, some people just can’t decide on one character or scene, so they dedicate a whole body part to their Tolkien love! Carlos Fabra inked this black and grey leg sleeve showing some of the Fellowship along with Gollum on the front, and a large portrait of Saruman on the back. Joanne Baker from Semper Tattoo Studio did something totally unique with this colour splash lower-arm sleeve featuring a number of details including the Ring, Ring script, the Witch-king’s helmet, a Hobbit door, and J. R. R. Tolkien’s monogram on a background of watercolour.

Well all's well that ends better, and even darkness must pass. We hope you’ve enjoyed this collection of Tolkien tattoos – don’t forget to share your own with us on Instagram and Facebook!