Wrongfully convicted. Exonerated. Artist. This is Dean McKee's story.
The Story Behind the Ink
Dean McKee spent decades behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. During those years, art wasn't a hobby — it was survival. Drawing, painting, and creating kept him grounded when everything else was taken away.
When the Innocence Project of Florida won his freedom, Dean did what he'd always dreamed: he opened Inside Ink Tattoo Studio in Largo, Florida. Every tattoo he creates carries that history — the patience, the precision, and the belief that something meaningful can come from even the hardest years.
This is more than a tattoo shop. It's proof that second chances are real.
⚖️ Featured by the Innocence Project of Florida
Dean McKee's full story — his wrongful conviction, his exoneration, and the life he built after — as told by the organization that helped win his freedom.
📺 As Seen On Fox 13 News
"30 years after wrongful murder conviction, man channels passion for art into Largo tattoo shop."
Dean’s Story
At just 16 years old, Dean McKee was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit.
For the next 30 years, he fought for his freedom without giving up hope.
With the support of the Innocence Project of Florida, and after decades of legal work and DNA evidence, Dean was finally exonerated and released in 2018.
How Art carried him through
During those years inside, Dean turned to art.
What began as a way to survive became a discipline, a craft, and ultimately a calling. Every drawing, mural, and painting was a way of holding onto himself — and holding onto the future he believed was still possible.
The image above is a section of a mural Dean designed and painted during his time wrongfully imprisoned.
The Power of Art
Art gave Dean purpose when everything else was taken away.
Today it fuels a life built on creativity, freedom, connection, and healing — and that's exactly what Inside Ink is. From tattoos to original artwork, everything created here reflects the belief that it's never too late to turn pain into something worth keeping.
The image above is "Cherubs" — a Valentine's Day gift Dean painted for Danie while still in prison.
The Birth of Inside Ink
The name Inside Ink reflects where Dean's artistic path was forged.
What was learned on the inside became the foundation for a studio built in freedom — a place where art, story, and second chances come together in every piece. Dean didn't just learn to tattoo. He built his craft under pressure, with intention, and with purpose.
The image above: Seth Miller (Dean's attorney), Dean, and Danie McKee at the grand opening of Inside Ink — hosted by the Innocence Project of Florida, January 2020.
Forged on the Inside. Built for the Outside.
Inside Ink isn't your average tattoo shop. Dean didn't learn his craft at a school — he built it under pressure, with limited tools, and with nothing but time and determination.
Every client who sits in his chair gets that same focus. Whether it's your first tattoo, a memorial piece, or something you've been carrying for years — Dean works with you to make it real.
No fluff. Just honest work.
Book with Dean
If you've been thinking about a tattoo that actually means something — you're in the right place.
Inside Ink is in Largo, FL, trusted by locals and visitors from across Pinellas County.