I'm Conor — also known as Sticky Bones Smith, Sticky, or Sticks. I create bold, illustrative tattoos influenced by traditional tattooing, Japanese aesthetics, and Golden Age illustration.
I was born in New Zealand but spent a lot of my childhood in the UK and Ireland. My first tattoo came at 17, done in a mate's kitchen in Ireland. From that point, I was hooked on the art form — and by 2016, I was tattooing full-time.
After years of learning, travelling, and building my craft, I've landed at Sacred Tattoo in Auckland as my home base, with regular guest spots at Deadly Tattoos in Calgary.
I came into tattooing from a working-class, self-taught background. I didn't go to art school — I learned by doing, by failing, and by studying the artists and illustrators who came before me.
Every tattoo I make is narrative-driven. I want each piece to tell a story, fit the body naturally, and stand the test of time.
Traditional, Japanese, neo-traditional — the foundations of bold, lasting work.
Golden Age illustrators, comic books, film concept art, and painting.
Fantasy, sci-fi, mythology, folklore — narrative drives the design.
Punk, metal, and hip-hop — the energy and attitude behind the work.






Ready to start your project? I'd love to hear your ideas and see what we can create together.
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