Hey Ben! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hey, I’m 24 years old and have lived in Stoke Newington, Hackney for about seven months now. I’m originally from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, and have been in London since the start of the year. Before that, I lived in Birmingham for about six years whilst I was at university. I currently work in digital marketing as a senior SEO account manager at an agency, and have been in the industry since I graduated in 2017.
How many tattoos do you currently have, and where are they located?
I’ve currently got four tattoos: one on my left ankle, one on my right forearm and two on each of my index fingers. They’re all in black ink only and feature a lot of fine linework.
What inspired your first tattoo?
My first tattoo was a bit of a “spur of the moment” kind of thing. I was in Camden two years ago and really wanted Prince’s iconic love symbol on my body as I have a fascination with him. I found a small parlour and had the design drawn up in no time. Before I knew it, I’d got my first tattoo - I felt addicted from the get-go! I share a love for him with a lot of my friends and family so it was sort of a tribute to them - a little nod to us all being part of his amazing legacy.
Did you do much research into tattooing before your first piece? What did you expect?
I had wanted tattoos for years but could never really decide on what I wanted. I thought a lot about my last three tattoos, but the first one was pretty much thought about and done within the space of a week. I was told it can hurt, but I honestly don’t think any of them were that bad. I’d say it was more the part after you’re tattooed that I didn’t expect, and the extent to which you have to look after them!
What did you have done most recently?
After the love symbol, I got my three other tattoos in one sitting. The one on my right forearm was designed by a friend of a friend, Natasha. It’s a fine, linkwork piece in black detailing the Aries constellation with the Aries symbol integrated into the design. I’ve always had a fascination with horoscopes and constellations, so it felt the most natural thing for me to have done.
The two tattoos on my index fingers are a lot more personal. I lost my mum at the end of 2018, and always wanted something to act as a tribute to her. I ended up getting her signature from past birthday cards, and have ‘Mum’ on my right finger and ‘Deb’ on my left. They mean a lot to me and it’s nice to have a part of her with me wherever I go.
How do your tattoos make you feel?
All of my tattoos have a really deep meaning for me, as each represents a bit about my past and present. I love my tattoos because,most of the time, they are on show whilst still being quite understated. They also help to tell my own story in ways which I sometimes think words can’t.
Do you find healing your tattoos relatively easy?
I’ve found it okay so far, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I kept catching the ones on my fingers, and irritated the piece on my ankle by putting Vaseline on it… Safe to say, I’ve learnt my lesson and now use products that I feel nourish my skin and care for my tattoos.
Do you have plans to get more in the future?
I definitely want more tattoos but it’s just a matter of knowing what and when for me. I’m in no rush, but I’m constantly on the lookout for inspiration wherever I go, which will hopefully help me decide on my next piece. I really like the idea of having one on my ribs on my right-hand side, but I still have no idea what it’ll be. I also think a few more little ones on my hands and forearms would be cool - watch this space, basically!
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