Barnacle Ink - Tattoo Shop

Expérience fantastique: Wonderful experience, and a great space to be in! Angie did a beautiful piece on my right calf!

Expérience fantastique: Angie did an amazing job, very nice tattoo shop! Amazing staff, other friendly clients, very happy with my tattoo

Expérience fantastique: I have now have had 3 tattoo sessions with Nicole Pride. Very excited and happy with results. She took my ideas and always made them better. She also fixed up a botched tattoo I had done elsewhere. Cozy shop. HIGHLY RECOMMEND 2026 Jan update: Nicole left the shop a while back. Since then, Nick has done 2 tattoos for me. He's an incredible artist. Really listens to what you are hoping to achieve. He introduced me to colour and I couldn't be happier

Expérience fantastique: Nick was great ! Thank you for the great tattoo. I will be back!

Expérience fantastique: Highly recommend Nick He did a amazing job with helping me out with a memorial tattoo .

Expérience fantastique: Very highly recommend Barnacle Ink and Nick! He did a beautiful job on my tattoo and an amazing job with all the lines and shading. Love my new Ink! Thank you Nick, I will definitely be coming back again for more!

Expérience fantastique: I got a tattoo with Angie today- amazing artist with a great eye for detail. I definitely recommend the artists at Barnacle ink they’re beyond amazing and put so much care into their work

Expérience fantastique: I am so in love with my gorgeous tattoo done by the incredibly talented Angie Henriquez. Her attention to detail and creativity captured everything that I wanted and I will definitely get more art from her in the future. Plus, the shop is very welcoming vibes, super friendly and clean, I highly recommend this shop.

Expérience fantastique: Thanks so much smokey. Awesome job brother !

Expérience fantastique: 100% Recommend Nick at Barnickle Inc, Incredible eye for detail!

Expérience fantastique: Got work by Smokey a few times- great dude, clean shop, stellar vibes. Went back and will continue doing so. Cheers mates; Much love.

Expérience fantastique: I was visiting the island for the first time from Saskatchewan bringing my grandfather’s ashes home as he was from Nanaimo, I decided to see if I could get a walk in tattoo as a piece for my family. Smokey was the artist who took it on, he unfortunately got a bit busy but asked me to come in the next day. The whole shop was a vibe, super friendly, professional and clean. My piece is beautiful and I will definitely arrange future appointments and visits when I find my self back!

Expérience fantastique: Got a piece done by sir Smokey himself. Not only did he get me in for a walk-in, freehand the tattoo so that it was perfect for my body and do an incredible job with the ink itself but he entertained with sweet stories, great jokes and a lovely singing voice might I add. Thank you so much Smokey, if i wasn’t just passing through you would have been my new go to guy. Studio was super clean and welcoming. If you too are in the mood for a last minute tattoo, or have been planning one for some time now, I highly recommend either Smokey or Nick at Barnacle Ink!!

Expérience fantastique: Lost my Himalayan cat earlier this month and sent Nick a picture of him. Received only the BEST realism tattoo and have my sweet baby, personality and all captured forever. Will continue to recommend Nick to everyone i know.

Expérience fantastique: Nick is the man! He gave me and my mom a matching tattoo. It was her first one!! He made her feel very comfortable, and she even remarked on what a 'nice touch' he had. 10/10

Expérience fantastique: Loved the vibes great tattoo very good service company nailed the idea I was going for would highly recommend

Expérience fantastique: I had a wonderful experience! Back in 2023 (posting this late) my friends and I were wanting tattoos so badly and were hoping to go walk in style, and Nick took us in right away we got lucky he wasn’t busy that day. He was so passionate about our designs and had the creative imaginative eye from stencil to skin. He was very easygoing and chill as a person who’s had quite a few tattoos and my one friend who was getting her 2nd tattoo, and my other friend who was getting her first tattoo, we all loved our pieces and Nicks bubbly warm energy. 10/10 would go back again

Expérience fantastique: Very happy with my experience with Nick at Barnacal Ink Tatoo Shop. Amazing artist. Also great at distraction from the not so fun side! Lol Thanks Nick!

Expérience fantastique: Nick is an absolute legend. I could not be happier with his work. Flawless work, epic original design, and he was a blast to work with. I couldn't be more impressed.

Expérience fantastique: I am so impressed with the talent and professionalism. Highly recommend this shop!

Expérience fantastique: Nick is an awesome artist and his shop is the best. Super clean. Super good vibes. I have nothing but good things to say about our experience at Barnacle Ink. We will continue to come back for more beautiful work with Nick. Thank you!

Expérience fantastique: I had the pleasure of getting tattooed by Nick, and I couldn't be happier with the experience and the final result. From the beginning, Nick was incredibly attentive and skilled, creating a design that was absolutely stunning. He went above and beyond to rework the design until I was 100% satisfied, blending his artistic expertise with personal touches that made the tattoo feel truly unique to me. Nick’s talent in covering up my old tattoo was remarkable; you’d never know anything was underneath the new piece. The whole design flows so naturally that it’s hard to believe it’s a cover-up. Throughout the process, he was very transparent about what could be achieved and set realistic expectations, which made me trust his expertise completely. The studio itself was spotless, and Nick took every precaution to ensure a clean, safe environment. He has a calm and professional demeanor, which made me feel at ease right from the start. Not only did he check in on my comfort frequently, but he also took breaks as needed and used techniques that made the experience as painless as possible. One of the things I appreciated most was Nick’s clear communication. Prior to the first session numerous emails had been exchanged. He was flexible with scheduling and ensured that I understood the aftercare process thoroughly, which made the healing phase go smoothly. Nick even followed up afterward to see how everything was healing, showing that he truly cares about his work beyond the session. Considering the quality and the attention to detail, the pricing was more than fair. Nick’s dedication and skill are worth every penny, and it’s clear he takes immense pride in his craft. I highly recommend Nick to anyone looking for a tattoo artist who is both incredibly talented and genuinely invested in his clients' satisfaction. I will be back for sure!

Expérience fantastique: I had a small rework/coverup done recently with Nick. He took my ideas and created something that looked like it was part of the original water-colour style design. He was open to my feedback, and suggested small changes that further balanced the design. Thanks again Nick, I love my tattoo again!

Expérience fantastique: Comfortable atmosphere, amazing artists and their beautiful work...highly recomended

Expérience fantastique: Nic (the owner) of barnacle ink is so amazing and talented in his work. He is so talented and a true professional. He is receptive toward feedback and working with you to really create a piece you will love. He listens to your desires and wishes and delivers the best outcomes. I have had 2 tattoos by Nic and my husband has had 2 by him, we love them all! The shop is creative, and clean. Can't wait to create our next piece together!

Expérience fantastique: Nick is great, my sister and I told him what we were wanting, sent him our Ideas and what he came up with was amazing. This is a very special piece and Nick went above and beyond. We will be returning to the island for Nick to do our next one.

Expérience fantastique: Nick’s art work is absolutely amazing. He’s shop is the cleanest that I have ever seen. I will return for more art.

Expérience fantastique: Had my first appointment with Nick today, started the project I've wanted for quite some time. Nick was up for the challenge when everyone else told me no. Nick will for sure be my go to tattoo guy.

Expérience fantastique: Didn't actually get a tattoo here, but the owner helped me out when I had an issue healing a fresh tattoo from a different studio, that happened to be closed that day. He completely cleaned and redressed the tattoo for free, he said he was just passionate about tattoos healing properly. GOAT behaviour for sure. His flash books looked incredible as well, I'm definitely going to be checking barnacle ink out for a future tattoo!

Expérience fantastique: I have 5 tattoos done by Nick. He did those ones in Dawson City, Yukon. I am traveling to Nanaimo, because I want Nick to do all my Ink from now on. His colors are bold and bright, his lines are steady, and he is an amazing artist. He custom designed my forearm tattoo. Fireweed, it is incredible, and also the best fireweed tattoo I have seen so far. So vibrant, he absolutely nailed the colors. I think he even custom mixed them if my memory is correct. He did a gorgeous wing for me as well, on my left shoulder blade and arm before he left Dawson, all freehand. And it was also a cover up of a previous tattoo. It was 6 hours of well worth it!!! Nick is pretty cool too, super chill. I would very highly recommend Nick Watson. I have no idea how to upload pics here to show you.

Expérience fantastique: 5 stars for Nick! got us in short notice to do our matching tattoos with a small timeframe to work with, and absolutely killed the design. Made us feel comfortable and he is very accommodating. 11/10 will definitely be back. THANKS NICK

Expérience fantastique: Nick has done 2 great tattoos for me! Super happy with his work and really appreciate how patient he was - made the whole process very easy and comfortable!

Expérience fantastique: I have two pieces from Nick and I absolutely love both of them! They've both healed wonderfully and look fantastic! I can't decide between them for which is my favorite. I was originally tatted on the 9th of Feb Great experience. Clean and safe studio. Good music and great vibes. Nick (owner) was friendly, respectful, and obviously talented. Process was low-tension, considerate and professional. Love the final product! Nick took the idea and brought it to life wonderfully, using his experience to shape the design for the medium of tattoo. Great advice for aftercare, and helpful products are available for purchase but there was absolutely no pressure to buy from the shop as opposed to elsewhere. Appointment was available within a week which was super convenient for scheduling (I had originally wanted to do a walk-in but decided to schedule). Overall absolutely recommend this studio, specifically Nick for B&W linework and illustrative style for those looking for some ink in the Nanaimo area!

Expérience fantastique: Nicks a great artist. I love the tattoo he gave me, very professional!

Expérience fantastique: This is a very late review and I meant to submit this weeks ago. I spent eight years of internal debate to get an indigenous inspired tri feathered upper arm tattoo. And I came across Nick. After the initial consult I can't say enough beautiful things both about his work and himself as a person. Not only did he create and execute the most beautiful piece of body art I've ever seen, but he also created a beautiful space to have the most interesting conversations while working. I was so nervous and he kept me so calm because of his demenour. Nick: You are such a talented tattoo artist and also such a great conversationalist. Both are art and I only wish people still knew how to converse like that. It was so refreshing. Thank you so much! Both for the beautiful (three tattoos) and the talks. ~Jasmine .

Expérience fantastique: It is always a pleasure getting work done with Nicole! She is very professional and super creative with all her designs! Very easy to talk with and a true talent. Can't wait for the next session!

Expérience fantastique: Got a tattoo done by Nick a year and a half ago and I’ve gotten so many compliments on it. Just recently went in for a tattoo and got it done by Nicole and she did a wonderful job. Definitely will be coming here for more tattoos.

Expérience fantastique: Great art, vibes, and conversation! Nick is really friendly and helpful with ideas. I'll go back to Barnacle Ink for my next one.

Expérience fantastique: I have only ever had amazing service with Nick. He’s professional, personable and best of all, a great artist. The bonus, his art will get you a lot of compliments Thank you Nick, you deserve them all too!

Expérience fantastique: Thanks Nick! Came in for a walk in, and they weren’t busy so we’re able to get me in right away. Nick was really rad, and I’m really impressed with his work, really sharp, clean lines on my song lyric in blackletter font. I am sure I’ll be back.

Expérience fantastique: Nick is an amazing artist and human. A few months ago I had an idea and recently I wasn’t feeling it. I bounced a few different ideas off of him and he executed them each amazingly today. 2 new tattoos and a few tinies here and there. He’s professional, caring, considerate and has amazing artistry. He’s done half my work and I keep going back. Thanks Nick!!

Expérience négative: Unprofessional

Expérience fantastique: Walked in to get my first tattoo, so glad I went here, best first tattoo experience, nick was great, was very fast and precise, gave me exactly what I wanted.

Expérience fantastique: My girlfriend and I choose Nick for a memorable tattoo. He is very talented and the shop is awesome. Very friendly interaction and overall great experience.

Expérience fantastique: Nicole did an amazing job, very precise work. She brings good ideas on the table that goes along with the client's initial idea but also enhance it at the end. I Recommend her

Expérience fantastique: First tattoo and second tattoo done by nick at barnacle ink super fun definitely going to be go to tattoo shop best experience ever thank you so much Nick

Expérience fantastique: Nick has done 2 tattoos for me recently - love them both! Funky, clean shop - very professional - really good vibe - highly recommend Barnacle Ink - I’ll be back!

Expérience fantastique: Nick Watson is phenomenal . He did a coverup tattoo on my hand which made me confident going back to him for my sleeve . His attention to detail is outstanding and the shop has the best vibes . Thanks so much man .

Expérience fantastique: Fantastic experience. Nick is wonderful. Easy to talk to, and I hardly felt a thing. I'm super happy with my tattoo and will definitely be returning. I highly recommend Barnacle ink.

Expérience fantastique: Quel bonheur d'être tombé sur Nick ! Étant parti sur un flash , il m'a de suite retravaillé un super croquis qui m'a plu et qui était bien meilleur que mon idée d'origine. Très professionnel, très hygiénique, très humain , je recommande à quiconque lis ces lignes .

Expérience fantastique: We had such a great afternoon with you Nick! You had the time to listen and think about our tattoo projects and then we spent a very spontaneous and delighted moment in your shop. Not only you are an amazing artist but you are also a tremendous person. Thank you so much !

Expérience fantastique: I recently had some work done by Nick. He was friendly and responsive from the time I inquired about booking a sesson to the time the work was finished. He work is fantastic and he came up with a design that I absolutely love. The shop is very clean and bright. I would not hesitate to recommend him and will be back!

Expérience fantastique: Highly recommend Barnacle Ink! I gave Nicole Pride an idea of what I wanted over social media. When I arrived for my appointment I was impressed with the studio/shop. It was clean, bright and had a really great vibe. Nicole had created a starting point image that was almost perfect. We tweaked the images to my liking and Nicole got down to creating my most favorite tattoo. She is incredibly talented and kind. I almost feel asleep a couple of times. The shading of the tattoo was incredibly realistic. I saw the work of Nick, who was tattooing at the same time and he too is super talented. Overall it's was a very comfortable, calm and inclusive feeling space that plays a cool playlist.I can not say enough positive things about my whole experience. I am currently planning out my next tattoo for Nicole to do in the near future. Great place! Great people!

Expérience fantastique: We had a great experience with Nick!! He took both my fiance and I as walk-ins later in the day and made our neck tattoo dreams come true! He took my concept sketch and just an idea from my fiance and created two amazing art pieces, stayed late to finish them and gave us a great price for both! We highly recommend Barnacle Ink and look forward to returning in the future :)

Expérience fantastique: Nick is an amazing tattoo artist and human being. He was easy to work with via email, figuring out details and such, and was a pleasure in person as well. He obviously takes pride in his work and is very talented. I would highly recommend Nick to anyone.

Expérience fantastique: Awesome experience. Nick is extremely talented, so happy with my new tattoo. From start to finish, great experience!!!

Expérience fantastique: Nicole was fantastic! I claimed one of her "up for grabs" pieces. She was super responsive to emails. She was very friendly and accommodating. The shop itself has a super cool atmosphere. Very clean. Very welcoming. I'll absolutely be back for another tattoo in the future! Thanks again for the amazing tattoo!

Expérience fantastique: I highly recommend Nick. I had a significant upgrade to a small text tattoo. Besides being a talented artist, he is a pleasure to deal with and he's super responsive if you have any questions. His shop is clean and nicely laid out. Overall, just a really positive experience! Thanks Nick!

Expérience fantastique: I just got 2 tattoos done by Nick. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The shop is very clean, organized and has a great vibe. I love both of my tattoos and I plan to go back again soon. I would definitely recommend Nick @ Barnacle Ink. Thank you so much Nick! Another wonderful experience and tattoo with Nick @ Barnacle Ink. Thank you again!!

Expérience fantastique: Great and patient service. Clean. Cool. Yeah.

Expérience fantastique: A few weeks ago Nick gave me a beautiful phoenix tattoo and I absolutely adore it! The shop itself is a clean and welcoming environment and Nick is super friendly and fun to work with! I will definitely be back!

Expérience fantastique: Shout out to nick.. he redefined a tattoo of a wolf head and looked amazing after.. also did a Japanese warrior mask that turned out perfect with great colour.. had a great talk with no stress .. he was very focused on making my tattoos look great and making sure I was leVing happy..

Expérience fantastique: Nick Watson was an absolute treasure! I was only available to be in town for the day (I'm from Saskatchewan), Nick did everything he could to make sure I could get in; he was incredibly accommodating. Nick's response time with emails was very efficient as well. His excitement and enthusiasm to be be part of my tattoo was wonderful (it's a build-on leg band of various landscapes of Canada where I've ran marathons). He was very kind and frequently checked in on how I was doing during the tattoo. I would strongly recommend him and this shop. It was a treat and pleasure to be a client at Barnacle Ink.

Expérience fantastique: Barnacle Ink is an awesome tattoo shop! The artists are not only highly skilled, but also extremely kind, patient and very accommodating. I definitely plan to go back. Highly recommended!

Expérience fantastique: Well I got a tattoo with my parents last names and it turned out great I love it I wanna go back for more

Expérience fantastique: This place is genuinely the best vibe for a tattoo shop I’ve ever been to. I highly recommend coming to see Nick for some work.

Expérience fantastique: Wonderful experience! Tattoo healed fast and looks great. One of my favs so far! Highly recommend,

Expérience fantastique: 10/10 would recommend this shop and specifically Nick. He was absolutely fantastic. I gave him nothing to go off of besides “I want it to make people slightly uncomfortable” and he nailed it. So happy to have found this place and my new tattoo artist! Thanks Nick! You will be seeing me soon

Expérience fantastique: I Had a great experience. Nicole knew exactly what I wanted and gave me a great tattoo. The atmosphere was friendly and inviting. The other artist had a client in at the same time and it looked like they were happy. Everyone there was great.

Expérience fantastique: Nick was absolutely amazing. My tattoo was beyond my expectations and loved the design he came up with. Would recommend Nick to anyone wanting to get some ink! I'll definitely go back to Barnacle Ink in the future. The shop was clean and professional.

Expérience fantastique: Nick gave me my first tattoo to commemorate my fight against lung cancer. I didn't know what to expect and was pleased to be greeted in an exceptionally clean environment. We talked about what I wanted and determined that it would be a very quick project (under an hour) and so availability allowed me to get it that day. I was so grateful for his easy going demeanor and caring attitude. He made the experience of getting my first tattoo a great one. Thank you.

Expérience fantastique: Absolutely wonderful vibes and great conversation while sitting for my tattoo. good atmosphere, calm and professional, very kind artists with lots of talent. highly recommend and will return time and time again thanks for the great time spent there and the beautiful work. Will 1000% be back ASAP Oh and might I add, a killer price for the work produced. Thank you Barnacle Ink!

Expérience fantastique: Outstanding all around experience. Five stars.... From communication, design, the artist, clean and warm environment, amazing tattoo, and lots of laughter. Thank you Nick

Expérience fantastique: Amazing work done here and a great vibe in the shop. I absolutely love my two new tats. Thanks again Nick!!

Expérience fantastique: Took us as a walk-in at the end of the day. Professional, clean and friendly. Would definitely recommend and come back!

Expérience fantastique: Absolutely amazing service with the best quality. Recommend 100%

Expérience fantastique: I absolutely love my new piece. Nicole was so easy and professional to work with. She listened to what I wanted and made something perfect! Would definitely recommend getting work done by Nicole, and will get more ink myself. Thanks so much for helping bring my idea to light! ♥️

Expérience fantastique: Nick is awesome, we walked in last minute and he got us in. High quality artwork, clean shop, fair price. Very happy with the overall experience.

Expérience fantastique: This is my tattoo! Nicole is a great artist and very professional! I love my tattoo! I will definitely get another tattoo from her!❤️

Expérience fantastique: Just an amazing service since the artist came in on his day off to get my piece done, and did said piece exactly how i pictured it.

Expérience fantastique: Great experience with Nick! He was very patient with me and my decision. After a few days it was healed! No scabbing or scaring it looks amazing! It’s been a few months know and no fading! Thanks Nick Until next time

Expérience fantastique: It was a great place to get a tattoo really clean and a nice environment. The tattoo artist was really cool and nice so if your nervous he is a good guy to choose. He made a design for my tattoo that was way better than what was in mind and did amazing with the tattoo. I'd definitely suggest him to anyone looking for a tattoo.

Expérience fantastique: I have received two tattoo's from Nick now, and he is truly an amazing artist, super kind and makes it a very good comfortable experience ! Hands down Very very pleased !

Expérience fantastique: Nick was wonderfull came up with a design that was exactly wanted and it turned out amazingly thank you nick

Expérience fantastique: Love my first experience in having a tattoo, lovely time and company.

Expérience fantastique: Just had an awesome tattoo experience with Nick. He was so patient as we went through the design process and could easily intuit what I was wanting. I highly recommend Nick, he's a professional, talented artist.

Expérience fantastique: Had an awesome experience here! Nick was great while doing my dogs memorial tattoo!!

Expérience fantastique: I would personally recommend anyone to go to Barnacle Ink. He is a true artist with compassion and talent. His shop is remarkably clean. Can’t wait for my next appointment. Yvette F

Expérience fantastique: Great shop nick is an awesome dude and even better artist. The shop was beyond clean and it is clear that nick take hygiene very seriously wich is always #1 when It come to tattoos. 100% will be returning to barnacle ink!

Expérience fantastique: Nick is a true Artist that is very professional. I'm very happy with my new tattoo to honor my granddaughter. Nick listened carefully to what I wanted and made my vision better than I could have wished for. The shop is clean and welcoming and he is very accommodating. He has a light touch and checks in with you to make sure you are comfortable. It was the best experience, getting inked, I have had so far...and there has been many. Go see Barnacle Ink for your next tattoo, you wont be disappointed, I would recommend him to everyone! I will be going back. Thanks again Nick!

Expérience fantastique: Amazing work done by Nick Easy booking, and easy going atmosphere! Kept super clean, and sanitary! We love our tattoos so much, so thank you Nick for a great memory and art we can cherish forever <3

Expérience fantastique: Barnacle Ink is a wonderful, clean, creative tattoo shop in South Nanaimo. Nick is very professional and highly creative and artistic. This is my second time being tattooed by him and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process….check it out!!

Expérience fantastique: Beautiful shop! Nick is extremely professional and such an amazing artist! I will be back!