The girl redefining Grimsby's tattoo scene

In a small town better known for its fishing heritage than its flourishing arts scene, Molly Gee — aka Molly G Pokes — is quietly transforming what it means to be a tattoo artist in Lincolnshire. Working entirely by hand, without machines, Molly’s tattoos blend ornamental flair with botanical forms, inspired as much by vintage ceramics as by her love of wildlife. But her practice goes far beyond ink. 

As co-founder of Primrose Creative Studios, she’s carved out a much-needed space for Grimsby’s creative community, alongside her friend and artist Penny Wood, one stick-and-poke at a time. But with few opportunities reaching this far up, she still finds herself heading to London each month to access the kind of work that should exist closer to home.

We had a chat with the talented tattoo artist to talk about her practice and her frustrations as a northerner who just wants creative scenes to exist up here with her.

Tell us who you are, and what you do: 

I’m Molly Gee, also known as Molly G Pokes! I’m a handpoke tattoo artist and illustrator based in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

How did your tattoo journey begin?

When I was 12 years old my mum got a tattoo and I was allowed to sit and watch, and I immediately fell in love! I became obsessed with tattoo culture and went out of my way to learn everything I possibly could about tattoo history and the industry as a whole. I got my first tattoo at 9am on my 18th birthday, and I’ve since collected almost 100 tattoos.  I dabbled in tattooing, badly that is, in my late teens before I decided to make a proper go of it in 2020, and have been a full time tattooist since!

Tell us about Primrose — what’s it like working there?

Primrose Creative Studios was founded in 2024 by myself and my pal Penny Wood (fine artist and tattooer). We realised that Grimsby was desperately lacking in modern tattoo studios and creative spaces. We currently have a resident screen printer/crochet artist (Mardy Mole), and we regularly host workshops and craft sessions in the space. And we have a mad pink toilet that always goes down well. 

We founded Primrose as both a cosy and comfortable tattoo space that also offered space for other artists and creatives to use.

Do you remember the first tattoo you ever did? 

I do and I even have a picture, as it was on myself and I’ve avoided having it fully covered to preserve the memory. (Please don’t judge my current skills based on this, it’s dire!) 

Where do you get your inspiration from?

It sounds a little corny but I get inspiration from everywhere! I love creating ornamental tattoos inspired by ceramic tiles & vintage flourishes  that compliment the body, such as my matching wrist/knee tattoos that have been super popular! I also love wildlife and botanical tattoos!

Do your surroundings in the north shape your work at all?

Yes, and I feel really strongly about this! Other cities and especially places like London have a really strong tattoo scene, with lots of interesting artists and a variety of style options. When I first started to tattoo, the contemporary tattoo scene in Grimsby was pretty much nonexistent. Although I’ve built up a fantastic client base of people that travel from all over the world to Grimsby to get tattooed by me (crazy!), last year I found myself missing out on more and more opportunities due to being up north.

I travel to London to tattoo for a week of every month, and it's been really apparent how many more opportunities I’ve received since I started going down south, and the difference in income.

I could really go on for hours about tattoo heritage in Grimsby and the links to the fishing industry, the lack of opportunity for artists in the north (especially those outside of cities), and the complexities of being a northern working class artist!

What do you hope people feel when they leave with your work?

My aim with every tattoo is to create a piece that you love, that affirms your personal identity, makes you more confident in yourself, and also that you had a good experience getting tattooed. I think that the experience of getting your tattoo will stay with you as long as the tattoo does, and feeling like your artist genuinely cares about the fact that you will be carrying it forever is important.

What are you excited to explore next in your practice?

Earlier this year I was invited to host a pop up tattoo event at The Other Art Fair hosted by The Saatchi, and I will be collaborating with them again soon which I’m really looking forward to! I’d love to explore combining tattooing with other mediums too, and as an Art History student currently I’d love to do more work on tattoo history!

For Molly, tattooing isn’t just about the final design — it’s about care, connection, and creating a lasting experience. Whether she’s tattooing in her cosy Grimsby studio or popping up at Saatchi’s The Other Art Fair, the mission stays the same: to give people art they’ll love, and a story they’ll never forget. As her work continues to travel, her creative home — and heart — will always be grounded in the north.

Follow Molly here. Follow UPNORF for more.