Meet the Artist: Byyclouds

Byyclouds aka Klaudia, is a North London tattoo artist at Parliament specialising in bold blackwork tattoos with a feminine edge.

What did you want to be before you were a tattooer?

To be honest with you, I was 9 years old when I started telling everyone I was going to be a tattoo artist. This has been THE dream for a seriously long time so I feel very grateful and blessed to be in this industry. Before I realised what my passion was, I wanted to be everything under the sun that was creative, singer, dancer, actor, designer, artist the lot. 

If you had to describe your style in 3 words:

Bold, black, feminine

Which placements do women tend to be most nervous about, and what do you tell them?

Women are often nervous about getting tattooed around the abdomen and thighs, usually because they worry what the tattoo could look like after pregnancy or weight gain / loss. What I always say is that our bodies are so magical and transformative, it takes a lot of change to really shift the tattoo itself. What usually happens is the tattoo simply grows or shrinks with the body. A good quality tattoo will move with you and look almost the same over time. With pregnancy, as your belly grows the tattoo will too. After pregnancy the skin texture around the belly may change but the tattoo will become the same size it once was.

Underrated style that deserves more love?

Blackwork baby! I think we’re in a really lovely era of fineline, and I love mixing that in within my style, but nothing beats a sexy and sleek bold blackwork piece! I think there’s nothing more feminine than a doll with some seriously delicious pops of solid black!

Have you ever seen a tattoo change how someone feels about their body? What did that look like?

All the time! On a personal level, I’ve always struggled with body dysmorphia, and plastering my skin with beautiful tattoos has genuinely helped me change the way I see myself. They’ve helped me build my confidence and learn to appreciate parts of my body that I used to struggle with. Now instead of wanting to hide certain areas, I’m excited to show them off because they’re covered in incredible artwork by artists I admire. It’s helped me turn something I once battled with into something I’m proud of.

I see that same transformation in so many of my clients too. A lot of them also struggle with body image, mental health and self-confidence. I feel incredibly grateful that I get to create tattoos that can help them feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin. It’s so rewarding to see someone fall in love with a part of their body that they may have spent years feeling self conscious about. 

It also means a lot when clients trust me to tattoo over old scars. I never take that trust lightly, because I understand that those scars can carry a lot of personal history and emotion. Being able to work with someone to transform an area of their body into something they feel proud of, or to mark the beginning of a new chapter in their life, is such a privilege. For me, tattoos are about so much more than aesthetics, they can be a way of reclaiming your body, expressing yourself and taking ownership of your story.

What's one piece of advice you'd give your younger self?

Take your time with it! Really think about placement, and make sure you do your research when choosing an artist. One mistake I made when I first started getting tattooed was impulsively getting things without really considering how I’d feel about them years down the line. Tastes change, trends come and go, and some of the things I loved at 18 no longer hold the same meaning or value to me. Looking back, some of those placements could have been used for pieces I’d much rather have now!

My advice would be to look through an artist’s portfolio thoroughly, check whether they have healed photos of their work, and make sure their tattoos consistently meet the standard you’re looking for. Fresh tattoos can look very different from healed ones, so it’s always helpful to see how their work settles into the skin over time. Not every artist will have lots of healed photos, especially if they’re newer, but take the time to look at as much of their work as possible before booking.

Ultimately, I’d tell my younger self not to rush into anything just because I love it in that moment. Sit with your ideas, think carefully about placement, research your artist, and remember that you don’t need to fill every space straight away. Sometimes waiting for the right piece or the right artist is so much more rewarding in the long run!

To make an enquiry with Klaudia you can fill in her booking form here.