Why do people get memorial tattoos?

Biggest honours as an artist. “That someone trusts you with immortalising a loved one – it’s a big responsibility and honour to do. Knowing a client is putting their trust in me as an artist and person, not only that but it’s a level of trust and respect on both parts, as when they have the procedure done, they will open up and tell me stories and show me pictures of their loved one.” When asked why she thinks clients choose to get memorial tattoos, she said “I think they get them for lots of reasons; As a reminder of a loved one that stays with you for the rest of your life. Some clients have ashes put into their tattoos so their loved one is with them forever, which is an amazing experience for them.”

Laura Boyd, 40, from Reading got a tattoo in memory of her niece, Scarlett Aurora, after she was tragically ‘born sleeping’. The tattoo of a rose symbolises sleeping beauty’s name when she was in hiding with her name above. “It feels like I couldn’t do anything to take the pain away from my sister, but making this on my forearm was a visible tribute that she’d never be forgotten.” She says she felt helpless but at the same time “I could contribute to remembering and that’s important.”

Laura Finn Thomas, 23, from Sheffield got a printed piece of Lavender in memory of her grandparents after their death. She says that they supported and loved her for who she is which meant a lot to her growing up. “The tattoo is lavender which they always grew and cared for in their front garden. I always associated the lavender with them like it’s a symbol of their love and care they expressed for their family.” The tattoo is like “keeping a part of them and a pleasant memory to myself.” Finn chose to get the tattoo on a more discreet part of her body, saying that to her “it means this was just a tattoo for me and for their memory.”

Nicole Berry, 31, from Worksop has a small piece to help her find comfort from her grandfather even now he’s gone. “He wasn’t the type to make a big show of things, but he always cared. He showed it in small ways, little comments, everyday moments, just being there.” This tattoo represents the little comments he would make that would mean the world to her. “It’s something he wrote in a birthday card to me once ‘Have a nice day’. Having his actual handwriting makes it feel like a small piece of him is still with me.” It’s an emotional tattoo, whilst feeling like he is always with him, it’s also sometimes a reminder that he’s gone, but she feels, overall, that it is the right way to remember him.

Bronté Rennocks, 23, has two tattoos in remembrance of two of her lost loved ones; a dove and a lion. Speaking of the dove she has for her great grandma who meant the world to her, she said “The dove symbolises she is now at peace. Her birth flowers surround the bird as a subtle reminder of her as well.” The lion tattoo is for her nan’s partner, who was like a second dad to her. “I was so obsessed with lions as a kid. My nan’s partner would take me to see them and get adoption packs for me. It played a really big part in my childhood.” She feels the tattoos are her own way to express grief and makes her feel like the connection to her and her loved ones will never be lost through these pieces on her body.

Hollie Newton-Brown, 36, from Sheffield got a tattoo for her dad shortly after his death when she was only 18. She says she got the tattoo on a bit of a whim, but also partly due to rebellion because her father had hated tattoos. At the time she felt a Lily was best as they were the ones on his funeral car, however, upon self-reflection, she believes she would get something different if she were to get the tattoo. She says she doesn’t feel she needs it for comfort anymore and it’s more just a piece of art on her body, but she doesn’t regret it. ”I don’t regret getting the tattoo at all as it was part of my grieving process, I used to look at it a lot and it used to make me smile and give me comfort.”

Rachael Farrah, from Sheffield is yet to get her tattoo, but has one designed and booked to represent her parents. “The tattoo is my mum’s favourite flowers and a drum. The drum represents my dad because he was always telling me to dance to the beat of my own drum.” All of Rachael’s tattoos have meaning, and she feels this is a necessary addition to the collection, memorialising the people who raised her and cared for her no matter what.

Michelle Senior, 51, from Sheffield, has a tattoo to remember her step-son, who tragically passed away at just 27-years-old. She had been a part of his life since he was 4-years-old and she loved him as if he was her own. The flowers are forget-me-nots which represent never forgetting him. “It’s the only tattoo I have, every time I look at them, it reminds me of him.”

When someone dies, they leave behind memories for their loved ones to find ways to immortalise these experiences. A compilation of memorial tattoos and the memories attached to them.