Simon Cooper's Tattoo Artistry

At Thorn Tattoo on Moon Street, Simon Cooper has spent nearly two decades turning a childhood obsession with drawing into a career built around nature, black and grey shading, and Japanese influenced design. Working alongside longtime friends at Thorn, Simon's known around Albuquerque for detailed animal and floral pieces, and increasingly, for large scale back work that takes months of collaboration to complete.

An Artist Since Childhood

Simon's been drawing since early childhood - as a kid, he'd rather sketch than sit through class, and he was the type to save an empty box just so he could flatten it out and turn it into a canvas. His first real exposure to tattooing came at 13, and by 14 he'd convinced his parents to order him a tattoo kit online. His first subject was his own father, a tribal scorpion on the back that, in Simon's words, held up shockingly well for a 14 year old's first attempt.

What hooked him wasn't just the art. Simon describes falling in love with the mechanical side of tattooing too, taking machines apart and rebuilding them, a habit he traces to a family history of hands on ingenuity. Drawing gave him the vision, and the machine gave him a way to put it on skin. He got his first shop job at 18 and has been building his craft ever since.

Why Black and Grey Fits the Desert

Simon's specialty in black and grey work is partly a response to tattooing in a desert climate. Color tattoos fade faster in strong sun, which is why black and grey work is so common in places like Albuquerque and Southern California. Combined with his appreciation for Japanese influenced composition, that focus has shaped the bulk of his portfolio: detailed, long lasting pieces designed to hold their sharpness for years.

Nature as the Best Inspiration

Ask Simon what he loves tattooing most, and the answer comes quickly: nature. Animals and florals dominate his recent work, from spiders and cobras to owls, cranes, and lions rendered in fine detail. He traces that pull back to childhood too, describing himself as the kid who was always outside catching lizards. That fascination shows up throughout his own collection of tattoos as well, and it carries directly into the pieces he designs for clients.

Going Large: The Shift Toward Back Pieces

While Simon still tattoos smaller work, close to half of his current projects are large scale pieces, including full backs and sleeves that can take between five and ten hours just to design. Most of his recent back pieces have come together over roughly seven sessions, sometimes finishing an entire back within three or four months. For Simon, the appeal of large scale work is the sense of accomplishment it creates for both artist and client. Sitting through a big piece takes commitment, and finishing one feels like a shared achievement built on trust and teamwork.

Finding a Home at Thorn Tattoo

Simon's move to Thorn grew out of friendship. He met Josh and Nicole around five years ago, near the beginning of the pandemic, and tattooed Josh's neck and back before the shop ever existed. That work built a foundation of trust between them long before Thorn was more than an idea. Josh opened Thorn first, and Nicole and Loren joined shortly after. Once Simon heard the shop was up and running, he didn't hesitate to join too, drawn by their talent, their thoroughness, and the chance to work alongside people who draw, collaborate and create the way he does.

What Simon Wants Every Client to Know

After 16+ years in the industry, Simon's very direct about what matters most to him: creating a tattoo that both he and the client can be proud of. That standard comes from personal experience: he's been on the other side of the needle with artists who didn't listen and made him feel like an inconvenience, and he built his own approach around not putting anyone else through that. New clients can expect a real collaboration, where they describe their vision and Simon offers guidance to help the piece hold up for the long run, all with the goal of making sure the client feels heard every step of the way.

Family First, In and Out of the Shop

Family is at the center of how Simon approaches both his life and his work. His earliest memories of art are tied to his parents, from the boxes he saved to draw on to the concerts he attended with them growing up, and the tattoo kit he begged them to help him order at 14. That same sense of family carries into the shop, where Simon considers his fellow artists not just coworkers but close friends whose trust he earned before he ever joined Thorn. He brings that same care to his relationships with clients, treating every collaboration with the same loyalty and attentiveness he brings home.

Beyond the Tattoo Chair

Outside of work, Simon's a lifelong rock and roll fan. He's got a growing collection of concert memorabilia, including guitar picks, drumsticks, and a few prized pieces from KISS, one of his favorite classic bands. In fact, he loved them so much that he dressed as Paul Stanley for an elementary school Halloween parade - platform boots and all - a costume his mom put together by hand. He balances that with an unexpected love of disco and a sense of humor shaped by classic stand up comedy. He takes life lightly, but he takes his work seriously, and that balance shows in the care he puts into every piece.

Book a Session with Simon Cooper

Simon Cooper tattoos at Thorn Tattoo, located at 1815 Moon St. NE in Albuquerque. Heads up:  his schedule fills up pretty quickly, and he usually opens bookings a few times a year - watch his Instagram at @simon.cooper_. You can also see more of his black and grey, floral, Japanese influenced and - more recently - color work on his artist page at Thorn Tattoo.