Pilgrimage Tattoo · Custom Tattoo Studio in Nashville, Tennessee

Christopher Cousins tattooing a client at Pilgrimage Tattoo

The studio

Approachable artists, exceptional artistry.

Nashville-based Pilgrimage Tattoo specializes in custom tattoos informed by tattoo tradition and inspired by artist innovation.

Pilgrimage Tattoo maintains a professional and welcoming studio environment where experienced tattoo artists have the creative freedom to develop their individual artistic voices while collaborating to produce exceptional custom tattoo work.

Request an appointment How booking works

The artists

Meet the artists.

Well-versed in Neotraditional, American Traditional, Japanese, and Illustrative tattooing. Open a profile to read about the artist, see their full portfolio, and request an appointment with them.

English Cousins

@englikethelang

English has been making tattoos since 2011. She works predominantly in neotraditional, Japanese-inspired, and ornamental blackwork styles. Her goal is to maintain the magic and impact characteristic of classic tattoo imagery while contributing something of her own.

She co-founded Pilgrimage with Christopher in 2024.

Join her mailing list Instagram

Styles: NeotraditionalJapanese-inspiredOrnamental blackworkBlack and grey
Loves to tattoo: Ladies, big cats, dragons, snakes, florals, wolves, and fierce animals.
Books: Open three to four times a year. Join her list to hear about the next opening.

Portfolio

Christopher Cousins

@cousins_tattoos

Christopher's style draws inspiration from traditional American and Japanese tattooing. He loves making strong tattoos that feature aggressive animals and imagery that stems from Japanese mythology and medieval European fantasy. Christopher is also a nerd at heart and loves incorporating fandom into classic tattoo motifs.

Dynamic compositions and bold color choices are hallmarks of his work, and help his brand of traditional stand out as uniquely his own. Not into color? Christopher also makes strong blackwork designs.

Request with Christopher Instagram

Styles: American TraditionalJapaneseNeotraditionalBlackwork
Loves to tattoo: Eagles, wolves, dragons, hannya, samurai, skull knights, wizards, and anything with a fandom behind it.
Books: Accepting requests.

Portfolio

Nathan Fite

@nathanfitetattoos

Tattooing since 2015, Nathan is a local Nashvillian with a passion for both American and Japanese tradition in tattooing. Whether working on large or small scale, he has a love for bringing fantasy, sci-fi, mythology, and nature alive in his art, all the while utilizing lessons from tradition to ensure boldness and staying power in his tattoos so that they look great now and many years down the road.

Join his mailing list for booking updates Instagram

Styles: JapaneseAmerican TraditionalLarge scaleBlack and grey
Loves to tattoo: Dragons, tigers, koi, fantasy and sci-fi figures, mythology, and full sleeves.
Books: Books Closed. Join his mailing list for booking updates.

Portfolio

Jessica Fox

@thesleepyhahas

Jessica is a Philadelphia transplant who has been tattooing in the Nashville area since 2023. With a lifelong background in art and a strong foundation in color theory, she has been working in tattoo studios since 2017. Her work is primarily illustrative, often incorporating elements of Neotraditional and anime styles.

She gravitates toward organic subjects such as animals and florals, while also drawing inspiration from fantasy, magic, and video games. Jessica is dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming environment for every client.

Request with Jessica Instagram

Styles: IllustrativeNeotraditionalAnimeColor
Loves to tattoo: Animals, florals, fantasy creatures, magic, and video game characters.
Books: Accepting requests.

Portfolio

English and Christopher Cousins in the studio

Our story

Mark your
pilgrimage
with us.

Who we are

Pilgrimage Tattoo was founded in 2024 by husband-and-wife tattoo artists Christopher and English Cousins. After moving to Nashville in 2017 they quickly developed an affinity for the city and its creative community, which motivated them to establish roots and contribute to the local arts scene.

The studio is located at 4803 Gallatin Pike in Nashville, Tennessee and is home to four artists: English Cousins, Christopher Cousins, Nathan Fite, and Jessica Fox.

Our commitment

We're very intentional with the design and application, as well as with cultivating a positive client experience. It's our aim to create a clean and professional environment that still feels warm and inviting, and to show real care for the person sitting in the chair.

We value the opportunity to get to know each of our clients. We're honored to make tattoos for collectors from Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Clarksville, and for travelers from Atlanta, Louisville, Huntsville, St. Louis, and beyond.

For artists

A place for artists to thrive.

Pilgrimage is a place where tattooers have the freedom to push their individual voices alongside other artists.

Working side by side encourages growth and the production of tattoos of the highest caliber. Christopher and English have seen it in their own work: the growth that comes from the thoughtful critique and encouragement of another artist, each crediting the other with spurring on their progress.

Traveling artists are welcome. If you're interested in a guest spot, fill out the short form and we'll be in touch.

Guest artist application Meet the artists

Christopher Cousins tattooing beneath the studio's gallery wall

Reviews

What clients say.

★★★★★Client name · Google review

"Drop a verbatim client quote here. The whole review runs across the row, however long it is."

★★★★★Client name · Google review

"One review per style works well here, so a visitor sees the range: a neotraditional piece, a Japanese sleeve, an illustrative color tattoo."

★★★★★Client name · Google review

"The strongest reviews mention the experience as much as the tattoo: the welcome, the consultation, the care during healing."

Request an appointment Read them on Google

Booking

How booking works.

Every tattoo here starts with a request to the artist whose work fits your idea. This is the whole path from first message to finished tattoo.

01

Pick an artist and send a request

Open the profile that matches your idea and use their request form. It runs through Porter, our booking system. Tell us the concept, the placement, a rough size, and share any reference imagery.

If you're not sure who to ask, send a general request and we'll route it to the right artist.

02

Confirm with a deposit

Once your artist accepts, you'll pick a date and place a deposit to hold it. The deposit is applied to the cost of the tattoo on the date of your final session.

03

Come in and get tattooed

Your artist prepares the design ahead of the appointment. Arrive a few minutes early with your ID, a good meal in you, and comfortable clothes.

Request an appointment Manage an existing booking For anything that isn't an appointment request, email the shop.

Shop policies

Shop policies.

If anything here is unclear, call or email before your appointment and we'll walk you through it.

Email the shop Call the shop

Shop minimum: The shop minimum is $100. Individual artists may have a personal minimum for the projects they take on that is higher than the shop minimum.
Payment: We accept cash and card as methods of payment. Card transactions are subject to a 2.5% processing fee.
Deposits: All deposits are non-refundable and cannot be transferred. Deposits will be applied to the cost of the tattoo on the date of the final session.
Rescheduling: Please give 48 hours’ notice to avoid forfeiting your deposit. Your booking can be managed in the client portal, and a session can be rescheduled twice before a new deposit may be required. If you are past the 48-hour window, email both your artist and the shop with RESCHEDULE or CANCELLATION in the subject line.
No-shows: A no-call, no-show forfeits the deposit. Rebooking afterward is at the artist's discretion.
Running late: Let us know as soon as you can. Artists may decline to tattoo clients who arrive 30 or more minutes late, and the deposit is retained.
Identification: First-time clients complete a short intake form and must present a government-issued photo ID.
Guests: Please limit guests to one person. Extra observers restrict the artist's mobility and affect the quality of the work.

Before your appointment

What to know before you come in.

A little preparation makes a long session easier on you and on your artist.

1
Plan to arrive a few minutes early
First-time clients complete paperwork and show a government-issued photo ID. If you're going to be significantly delayed, please call ahead.
2
Eat a good meal before getting tattooed
Getting tattooed is physically demanding. Steady energy and stable blood sugar make the sitting easier. You're welcome to bring snacks or a meal for longer sessions.
3
Shower, and dress for the placement
Wear clothing that gives easy access to the area being tattooed. Getting tattooed in clothes you're attached to isn't recommended, since ink and blood are always a possibility. Privacy screens are available if you need more coverage.
4
Bring one guest at most
More than one guest limits the artist's mobility and affects the quality of the work.

Request an appointment

A brass tray table and plant on the rug in the studio's lounge

Aftercare

Healing your new tattoo.

Follow these steps for the first two weeks and your tattoo will heal the way it was drawn.

First dayRemove the bandage and do the first wash

Remove the bandage 2 to 3 hours after receiving your tattoo. Be sure you're in a clean, safe environment.
Wash your hands thoroughly, then cleanse the tattoo using only your hands, fragrance-free antibacterial soap, and warm water.
Keep washing until all blood and plasma is off the tattoo and it no longer feels slimy.
Pat dry with a clean paper towel.

Days 1 to 3Wash, dry, and a light layer of ointment

Wash the tattoo 2 to 3 times a day and pat dry.
Apply a light layer of Aquaphor or coconut oil after each wash.

Nights 1 to 3Wrap before bed, wash in the morning

After washing and drying, wrap the tattoo in plastic wrap before you sleep.
In the morning you'll find blood, ink, and plasma under the wrap. This is normal.
Remove the wrap, wash your hands, cleanse the tattoo thoroughly, pat dry, and moisturize.

Days 4 to 14Switch to lotion and protect it

Stop using Aquaphor, coconut oil, and plastic wrap.
Switch to a white, unscented hand lotion for the remainder of the two weeks.
Avoid direct sunlight, tanning beds, and any water exposure other than showering.
Treat the tattoo as an open wound during workouts: keep it covered with clothing and wash it afterward.
Do not pick or scratch peeling skin.

Second skinIf you left with Saniderm or Tegaderm

The bandage stays on for 3 to 5 days as long as it stays intact. Remove it sooner if it ruptures.
Plasma pooling underneath is normal and will reabsorb.
Remove it in the shower by rolling it down gently. Avoid pulling it straight away from the skin.
Afterward, follow the standard washing and lotion routine for the remainder of the two weeks.

If anything looks off while you're healing, call the shop and we'll take a look.

Call (615) 621-3097

The front room at Pilgrimage Tattoo, looking in from the entrance

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

If your question isn't here, email us or call the shop during business hours.

Where is Pilgrimage Tattoo located?

4803 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216, on the Inglewood stretch of East Nashville, just moments from Briley Parkway and Ellington Parkway. Parking is available alongside the building, and handicap-accessible parking is in front.

I'm not in Nashville. How far is the drive?

Most of the people we tattoo drive in. From 4803 Gallatin Pike it's roughly fifteen minutes from Madison, Goodlettsville, Old Hickory, Donelson, and Hermitage; twenty to thirty from Hendersonville, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Gallatin, Brentwood, and La Vergne; thirty-five to forty-five from Franklin, Nolensville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Springfield, White House, Portland, and Ashland City; and inside an hour from Spring Hill, Columbia, Dickson, Fairview, Clarksville, and Shelbyville. Plenty of clients build a day in East Nashville around the appointment.

What makes Pilgrimage different from other Nashville tattoo shops?

Every tattoo here is custom, designed for the person wearing it. The studio holds a 5.0 rating from 222 Google reviews, all of them five stars, and it's home to four resident artists who work side by side and critique each other's drawings, which is the part clients feel in the finished tattoo.

What are your hours?

Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

What tattoo styles do your artists specialize in?

Between the four of them: Neotraditional, American Traditional, Japanese, Blackwork, and Illustrative. English Cousins works in Neotraditional, Japanese, and Blackwork; Christopher Cousins in American Traditional and Japanese; Nathan Fite in Japanese and traditional work; and Jessica Fox in Illustrative work with Neotraditional and anime influences.

Do you take walk-ins?

Typically our artists work by appointment, but we're happy to accept walk-ins if an artist is available to accommodate. Call the shop at (615) 621-3097 and we'll let you know who's free that day.

What is the shop minimum?

The shop minimum is $100. Individual artists may have a personal minimum for the projects they take on that is higher than the shop minimum.

What should I do if I want to be tattooed by a specific artist?

Open their profile in the artists section and use their request button. It goes straight to that artist's booking form.

My preferred artist's books are closed. What should I do?

Subscribe to the Pilgrimage Tattoo mailer and the artist's own mailing list so you hear about the next opening. Requesting imagery and styles the artist enjoys making gives you the best chance of being selected.

How can I reschedule or view my upcoming appointments?

You can view, reschedule, or review all of your upcoming and past appointments anytime through the client portal at web.getporter.io/booking. Please remember the 48-hour notice policy for reschedules.

Do you host guest artists?

Yes. Traveling artists interested in a guest spot can fill out the guest artist application and we'll be in touch.

Visit

Finding us.

Open in Google Maps

Address: 4803 Gallatin PikeNashville, TN 37216
Nashville, Tennessee, moments from Briley Parkway and Ellington Parkway. Park alongside the building. Accessible parking is in front.
Hours: Tue to Sat, 10 to 5
Closed Sunday and Monday. Walk-ins welcome when an artist is free.
Phone: (615) 621-3097
Email: Pilgrimagetattoo@gmail.com
Instagram: @pilgrimagetattoo
New work, flash, and books-open announcements go up on Instagram first.

Call the shop Request an appointment

Carefully crafted tattoos designed to mark your pilgrimage

Approachable artists, exceptional artistry.

By appointment.
Walk-ins welcome.