Exclusive Interview: Graciedogood - Tattooing the Culture of Women’s Football

All Photos and Art Work Credit: @graciedogood

We’ve all said it after a big win: “If we do this, I’m getting a tattoo.” I’ve made that promise more times than I’d admit, and somehow none of my four tattoos are from those bets (yet). So it felt right to sit down with the woman who’s quietly becoming the go-to artist of women’s football culture: Grace Mills, better known as @graciedogood.

From Melbourne’s Laneways to London’s Creative Chaos

photo credit : @graciedogood

From Melbourne’s graffiti-covered laneways to the buzzing creative chaos of London, Grace has always lived somewhere between sport and art. Melbourne, known as the art capital of Australia, is a city alive with culture, often expressed through its street art. Grace grew up “a bit out of the city,” so visiting the heart of Melbourne was a “big deal”, something I can relate to from growing up in Kent, when trips into London were exciting day outings that often left my parents worse for wear. Grace would make her friends pose in front of the city’s iconic street art, already treating the world like a gallery she could curate.

While art was always part of her world, so was sport, and it wasn’t long before Grace discovered that the same passion she had for creativity also fueled her love of playing. “Growing up I was an extremely active kid, usually with multiple sports on the go,” she recalls. Her early sporting life included Auskick (AFL), netball, and Little Athletics, but it was cricket that truly captured her heart. “From when I was 12 I started to fall in love with cricket and actually played at quite a high level until I was 21,” she says.

Even as she pursued her own sporting interests, Grace noticed how few visible pathways there were for girls and women to progress in sport. “Any stories of women pushing boundaries in sport I would cling to, and being part of multiple clubs’ first-ever women’s teams is something I’m incredibly proud of,” she explains. One moment in particular that left a lasting impression was working at the Women’s T20 World Cup final in 2020 at the MCG. “Watching some of my friends play for their country, on a ground which women rarely stepped foot on, and for them to win as well, was absolutely mind blowing,” she says.

Tattoos as Storytelling: Finding Her Style in Women’s Sport

It was this combination of creativity and sport that naturally led Grace toward tattoos as a form of storytelling. “My tattoo style and ideation has always been driven by people and culture around me. I love tattoos that express people’s passions and interests,” she explains. Her first dip into sports-inspired designs came from the teams she played with, creating celebratory tattoos for AFL grand final wins. From there, it grew and when Collingwood FC won the 2023 Grand Final, she created a flash sheet for the occasion, which went ‘viral’ for Grace at the time. It clicked: tattoos weren’t just art, they were a way to build identity and celebrate moments fans carry forever.

Even though Grace didn’t play women’s football herself, she’s always been inspired by the creativity, passion, and community around the game. “I think women’s football is actually a canvas full of colour, inclusivity, and creativity,” she says. “We’ve always been here in the shadows, but now, it’s exciting that women’s football is being driven by the community that supports it and broadcast so widely. Our voices and ideas are valued and can impact the whole football world.” 

Community, Culture, and Creative Collaboration in the WOSO World

Her move from Melbourne to London gave her even more space to explore this intersection of sport and art. “Not having to get up at 3 a.m. to watch games is one thing, but being surrounded by a community of creative, fashionable, queer, and passionate sports fans makes me feel invigorated,” she says, and every Australian WSL fan would probably nod in unison.

For Grace, tattoos offer a way to capture that vibrancy, whether it’s through bespoke designs for fans, celebratory pieces for players, or collaborative projects with clubs. Each piece becomes a tangible expression of fandom and a celebration of the sport’s culture.

Since moving to London, Grace’s work has exploded, making her the most talked-about tattoo artist in the women’s football scene. She often creates temporary tattoos for Arsenal matchdays, collaborated with the Lionesses and ThisFanGirl for the Euros this summer, and even modeled alongside her partner Steph for AWFC merchandise launches. She’s appeared on live broadcasts for Pride London 2025 and tattooed at high-profile events like the Sprints’ album launch. “This year has honestly been the craziest year of my life… London is a place to say yes, lean in, and doors will open,” she says.

It’s also given her the chance to connect with other creatives in the women’s football space. “I would love to do a trade with Georgia (Stanway)! Growing up in a very sports-heavy world, it’s quite rare to play with other creatives, to see someone like Georgia who is not only an insane athlete but an artist as well. I know for many young kids it’ll show that you can do both, you don’t have to pick one,” she explains. Grace has also had the pleasure of tattooing Robyn Gunn, another icon and inspiring figure in the game. “Robyn was such a legend to hang out with and tattoo. Maybe one day I’ll be able to dress as cool as her. One can dream.”

But with her work gaining visibility, Grace is mindful of the responsibility that comes with it, both as an artist and as a member of a growing creative community. “A good artist doesn’t copy or steal but will rework it in their own way,” she explains, highlighting the importance of credit in tattoo culture. Viral designs can easily be shared online, but without proper recognition, the original artist loses both acknowledgment and livelihood. That’s where Tattoo Tickets come in. They aren’t just permission slips, they’re recognition of labour, experience, and the costs behind running a studio. In the same way the women’s game deserves investment and visibility, so too do the artists documenting and celebrating it.

Looking Forward: Pride, Inclusivity, and the Future of Grace’s Work

​​Looking ahead, Grace wants to expand into machine tattoos and explore other art forms for people not ready for something permanent. And she hopes the women’s game continues its rise with more positive stories and more spotlight for minority voices. If she could introduce anything? “A Pride Round. Celebrating inclusivity and creativity across the sport would be incredible.” For anyone unfamiliar, a Pride Round is a dedicated matchweek celebrating LGBTQ+ players, fans, and communities, with the AFLW run one of the most iconic versions of this. It’s a blueprint Grace would love to see embraced across women’s football.

For fans wanting to get a piece of Grace’s work for themselves, bookings are available via Venue Ink, with sessions held at Honey Studio in Homerton, Hackney. Beyond tattoos, she also has an online shop where you can buy prints, stickers, and gift cards, perfect for football fans and art lovers alike. And if you’re at an Arsenal home match, you can often find her above The Armoury at the Emirates, bringing her vibrant, fan-focused designs straight to matchday. Grace’s work is more than ink; it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and the art of the game.