The Maltese tattoo artist Samuel Schiavone is no stranger to international recognition for his incredibly realistic work, having won awards in Belfast and Milan last year, among others. Last weekend, he shone once again, this time at the tattoo convention that took place between 11th and 13th April in Caserta Italy, where he placed second in the highly competitive Best Black and Grey category.

His winning piece is a hauntingly detailed veiled skull, brought to life through his signature black and grey realism style. The piece, tattooed on a forearm, is a masterclass in contrast, texture, and technical precision.

‘This time, I decided to focus on a smaller piece placed on the forearm,’ said Samuel. ‘I really pushed the detail to bring out texture and contrast.’ 

Beyond the award itself, Samuel was also honoured with an invitation to sit on the official judging panel for other competition categories – a mark of esteem from the international tattoo community.

Samuel creates his masterpieces at Seven Tattoo Studio in Żejtun, but you can take a look at them online too, via his Instagram profile.

Can you imagine wearing one of Samuel’s works of art?