Bleu Noir

The creative credentials of Jeykill and Veenom were never in doubt. Sprung from Le 9e Concept, a collective that draws together painters and illustrators across the capital, the pair brought their artistic sensibilities to the tattoo world some years ago, opening a venue that's clearly modelled on an art gallery. Enter Bleu Noir, and you're first confronted with a small exhibition space and a shop that sells local artists' oeuvres. Paintings, drawings and tattoo art sit alongside each other, each given equal value.

A cursory check of the Bleu Noir website shows that this setup is no pretentious gimmick. The owners are hugely prolific artists in their own right, boasting not only myriad tattoo designs but also collaborative projects with T-shirt and shoe brands. The two differ in style – Jeykill largely draws inspiration from ethnic art, while Veenom comes from a background in comic strips (hence the Marvel-inspired name) – yet together they've indelibly stamped their brand on the Parisian tattoo scene.