Born in South Africa but now living in the UK Zac wanted a tattoo that paid homage to his past, his heritage, his ancestry. For me a tattoo is about understanding and connecting with who you are and where you come from. Looking back to where tattooing has a long standing tradition it was about identifying yourself with your people/tribe and distinguishing rank. The world is a more accessible place in 2014 with air travel and internet so ideas and inspirations reach further afield connecting more of us together. I have found that almost all the people I work on have a common thread that runs through them which may not be apparent based on job description or the way they talk but dig little deeper and it’s there, it’s in the blood.

So when a person seeks me out for a tattoo I know that something about my work has resonated with them, it could be the weight of a tattoo that looks strong or maybe the fit on a persons body but ultimately my belief on how a tattoo should work aligns with their idea.

When Zac explained what he wanted out of his tattoo we decided that nothing better captured the spirit of Africa than a Lion, king of the land, strong and proud, using bush reeds as the whiskers and triangular motifs to represent a mountain range. I feel this piece works so well as Zac was willing to allow the tattoo to grow and listened to my advice when I suggested we use a large scale for the piece, every tattoo design has a size that does it justice.

Looking at the pictures of Zac wearing his tattoo now I see a man who radiates strength whilst acknowledging his roots ready to move forward and explore this life.

What will your next tattoo say about you?