For many years, tattoos were often associated with rebellion and youth, carrying a certain stigma, especially for older generations. However, times are changing, and the perception of tattoos has evolved dramatically. Today, it’s increasingly common to see seniors embracing body art, stepping into tattoo studios for their first ink in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. As tattoo artist Louise Krystahl aptly puts it, “The stigma associated with prisoners’ tattoos, or sailors or misfits getting them, has disappeared.” This shift in social norms is a key reason why artists like Krystahl are seeing a surge in older clients at her studio, Inkscape, in Bexhill-on-Sea. She recounts tattooing a delicate ladybird on the wrist of an 80-year-old woman, highlighting the growing trend of Seniors With Tattoos.
Krystahl notes that for older individuals, the motivation behind getting a tattoo is often deeply personal and sentimental, going beyond mere aesthetics. “For older people, it’s usually a sentimental reason, not just that they fancy a butterfly,” she explains. Many seniors view tattoos as a way to mark a new chapter in life, fulfill a long-held desire from their bucket list, or even find renewed purpose after significant life events. The recent pandemic, she believes, might have further fueled this trend, prompting individuals to finally pursue things they’ve contemplated for years. “I think people are doing stuff they have thought about for a long time and it has given them the impetus,” Krystahl observes.
Let’s delve into the stories of some remarkable seniors who decided that age is no barrier when it comes to expressing themselves through tattoos.
Neil Davies: A Father’s Enduring Tribute Etched in Ink
Neil Davies, 67, residing in West Sussex, received his first tattoo in 2019
The profound loss of his daughter Emily to breast cancer in January 2019 deeply impacted Neil Davies. In the immediate aftermath of her passing, at the age of 37, Neil sought a permanent way to keep her memory close. “It struck me that I wanted something with me that meant Emily was with me forever,” Neil recalls. Choosing ink over jewelry, he opted for a tattoo of her name on his arm, a decision made on his 65th birthday, just three days after Emily’s death.
Neil further personalized his tribute by adding the touching phrase, “Sometimes the star that shines brightest, shines but briefly,” beneath Emily’s name. To Neil, these words perfectly encapsulate Emily’s vibrant personality. “She was a very bright, vivacious person, always the life and soul of any party,” he fondly remembers. Emily’s capacity for love and her dedication to her son left a lasting impression on those who knew her.
For Neil, the tattoo serves as more than just a memorial; it’s a conduit for conversation and healing. “When somebody says to me, ‘What’s that on your arm?’ it’s an excuse to talk about Emily,” he explains. Sharing her story is a source of comfort and relief in his grieving process.
The physical presence of the tattoo also offers solace during moments of intense grief. “Grief is there all the time, but occasionally something will trigger it and it hits you like a wave. Then I grab my arm and take a minute and calm down, then I’m usually OK,” Neil shares. This tangible reminder of Emily acts as a comforting anchor in moments of sorrow.
Looking to the future, Neil continues to honor Emily’s memory in a meaningful way. He adds a star to his tattoo each birthday, a tradition he intends to continue as he helps raise his grandson. “Every year on my birthday, I get a little star tattooed near Emily’s name, and my plan is, for the sake of my grandson, to get my arm covered in stars because I want to live until he’s at least 21,” he says. This constellation of stars will become a lasting testament to Emily’s enduring presence in their lives.
Sarah Browne: Reclaiming and Celebrating Her Body Through Tattoo Art
Sarah Browne, in her 60s and residing in London, got her empowering tattoo last year
Sarah Browne’s journey to getting inked was one of overcoming past trauma and societal expectations. At the age of seven, a severe accident involving a gas stove left her with burns covering 60% of her body and extensive skin grafts. Growing up, Sarah faced societal pressures and her father’s disapproval of tattoos, shaping her initial views on body modification. “My father had very strong feelings about the way women should look, and it did not include having tattoos, so I grew up with that,” Sarah recounts.
However, as societal norms evolved and influenced by her daughter’s own tattoos, Sarah felt a shift in perspective. “My daughter has five tattoos and she had been on my case for ages about getting one,” she laughs. Finally, Sarah decided to challenge her long-held beliefs and embrace the idea of getting a tattoo. “I finally just said, ‘To hell with it – I’m going to do it.’”
Choosing the area with the most prominent skin grafts, Sarah opted for a sun tattoo, a powerful symbol of self-acceptance and body positivity. “I wanted to pick the very worst of the skin grafts for my tattoo, and I was thrilled that they could tattoo on that area. It’s basically me saying, ‘This is my body – I’m going to celebrate it, whatever is going on with it!’” she explains. The sun motif also holds personal meaning, inspired by her favorite song, “Here Comes the Sun,” and a friend’s endearing nickname, “solar-powered person.”
Sarah’s tattoo has not only been a personal triumph but has also altered her interaction with the world. While she had always been open about her scars, the tattoo has shifted the focus. “Now, I don’t know if they are staring at my scars, or this awesome tattoo,” she muses. The tattoo has empowered her to embrace her body and even celebrate it. “I actively look for dresses that are off-the-shoulder so I can show it off. It makes me feel that, at this age, I get to be a little bit sexy. It’s a lift.”
Looking ahead, Sarah is already planning her next tattoo, envisioning one on her ankle to cover scars from intravenous feeding during her childhood hospitalization. For Sarah, getting tattooed is intertwined with the liberating aspects of aging. “The wonderful thing about getting older is you have the freedom to be whoever you want to be. Getting a tattoo is part of that. This is my body, I don’t care what anybody else thinks. I wish I had believed earlier that I could decorate my back.”
Nancy Venables: Embracing Spontaneity and Ink at 86
Nancy Venables, an energetic 86-year-old from Wolverhampton, got her whimsical tattoo earlier this year
Nancy Venables’ decision to get a tattoo was sparked by a casual suggestion from her granddaughter Emma, a tattoo artist. Initially hesitant, Nancy warmed to the idea of a small angel tattoo. “My granddaughter Emma is a tattoo artist. She said, ‘Nan, I could do one on you.’ I said: ‘Not likely.’ Then: ‘Well, I might, one of these days. I want a little angel.’”
The passing of her husband Len, after 67 years of marriage, played a role in Nancy’s newfound sense of freedom and self-expression. “I lost my husband, Len, last year, just before Christmas. We were married 67 years. He wouldn’t have liked my tattoo at all. He wouldn’t have let me,” Nancy admits, reflecting on the more traditional dynamics of her younger years. “I’m of the age where, when we were younger, you did what your husband told you. It’s a different game now, life today.”
Embracing this new chapter, Nancy agreed to get tattooed by Emma. The result, while intended to be an angel, was playfully deemed a fairy by Nancy. “One day, she phoned and said she was coming to pick me up. She did a fairy on my wrist. I said ‘That’s not an angel, Emma.’ And she said, ‘Oh, you can have an angel next time.’” The angel motif was chosen in honor of a friend who collects angel figurines, and Nancy now wears an angel necklace as a constant reminder of her guardian angel.
More than the design itself, the sentimental value of the tattoo lies in its creation by her granddaughter. “It means a hell of lot to me that Emma did it. I wouldn’t have had one otherwise,” Nancy emphasizes. While not currently planning more tattoos, she remains open to the possibility, embodying a youthful spirit. “I’m not planning another, but you never know. You’re never too old to do anything.”
For Nancy, getting a tattoo is a symbol of embracing life to the fullest in her later years. “Getting a tattoo could be about me thinking I can do what I like now. It doesn’t matter what I say or do in my old age. It’s a bit of fun. When you’re 86, you can do what you like!”
Mark Warren: From Childhood Fears to a Gecko on His Arm at 70
Mark Warren, 70, residing in East Sussex, finally got inked three years ago after a long-standing dare
Mark Warren’s journey to getting a tattoo was a gradual evolution from childhood aversion to enthusiastic acceptance. Growing up in Dagenham, tattoos were associated with specific social groups and carried negative connotations within his family. “My home town is Dagenham, where having a tattoo was very much linked to working at Ford, or the docks. My mum said ‘If you ever have one done, you’ll be out of the house,’ so it wasn’t something I was interested in,” Mark recalls.
It wasn’t until later in life, witnessing the artistic evolution of tattooing, that Mark’s interest piqued. “It was only in the last 20 years or so, as they’ve become an art form in their own right that I started to get interested.” His partner Sally played a pivotal role in his decision. While accompanying her to a tattoo appointment, Mark was captivated by the process. “My partner, Sally, was having a tattoo done, in remembrance of a friend. I was fascinated, so when she finished I booked in.”
The specific design, a gecko, stems from a humorous dare years prior during a vacation in Spain. “Years ago, we were on holiday in Spain, staying in the mountains above Benidorm at Sally’s uncle’s house. I saw this thing dash across the floor, and I jumped back. He said, ‘It’s a gecko, nothing to worry about.’ And I warmed to it. Sally turned round and said, ‘I double dog dare you to have a gecko tattoo.’ If somebody challenges you to a double dog dare, it’s on pain of death. So 15 years later, I did.” This lighthearted dare transformed into a lasting piece of body art.
Mark’s gecko tattoo has sparked conversations and a newfound appreciation for tattoo culture. “When I see people with loads of tattoos, I quite often stop them and say, ‘Do you mind me asking which was your first one and why?’” he shares, illustrating his fascination with the stories behind tattoos.
Embracing his inked arm, Mark is already contemplating future additions. “Had I discovered all this younger, maybe I’d have gone for some other bits. Even now, when I look at my arm in the mirror, I’m really chuffed, and I’m planning on having another on the other side.” His brother’s surprising reaction further underscores the changing attitudes towards tattoos, even among older generations. “My brother was pretty shocked and then confided that he’d been thinking about one.”
Francis Lacy Scott: Inked Freedom After a Lifetime of Law
Francis Lacy Scott, 66, living in Brighton, marked his retirement with a meaningful tattoo last year
For Francis Lacy Scott, a 66-year-old retiree from Brighton, getting a tattoo was a symbolic act of liberation after a long and conventional career as a solicitor. Having contemplated getting inked for years, professional constraints held him back. “I had been thinking about having one for at least five years, but it probably would have been frowned on in the conservative law circles. My last firm had a policy of no visible tattoos,” Francis explains.
Retirement provided the perfect opportunity to finally realize his tattoo aspirations. “I retired as a solicitor in May and booked my tattoo the following month, but, because of the lockdown, there was a big waiting list, so I had it done in September. It marked my retirement – it reminds me every day that I’m free.” His family’s positive reactions further validated his decision. “The kids thought it was great, my wife is indifferent to it. I think other people think it’s quite fun, although some think I’m having a belated midlife crisis.”
Francis chose a scallop shell, the iconic symbol of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, incorporating a yellow arrow, the trail marker. “I wanted a scallop shell. It’s the symbol of the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, with a little yellow arrow on it – that’s the marker on rocks.” This design reflects his passion for the Camino and his plans to walk a significant portion of the route. “I’ve done parts of the route, but I want to walk a long stretch all in one go, which I’m planning to do in April.”
The Camino de Santiago holds deep significance for Francis, representing a departure from the structured routine of his legal career. “It’s a beautiful walk, and although I’m not religious, there is something spiritual about it. It’s an opportunity to reflect and have a clear head about what I want to do next.” He contrasts the regimented world of law with the freedom of the pilgrimage. “I worked for 42 years. The law is a very conservative environment, and you record time in six-minute units. You are programmed, throughout your whole career, to account for every six minutes. Walking through northern Spain for five or six weeks, not knowing where you’re going to stop each day is completely the opposite of being in an office, watching the dial and thinking: have you done your chargeable hours for the day?”
Francis’ tattoo serves as a daily reminder of his newfound freedom and the exciting chapter of life he has embarked upon. “My tattoo makes me smile and reminds me of the fact that I’ve finished with those restrictions and I can do what I like.”
Janet Davies: A New Life in Amsterdam, Inked at 70
Janet Davies, 72, now living in Amsterdam, got her symbolic tattoo at the age of 70
For Janet Davies, turning 70 was not a moment of decline but a catalyst for reinvention and new beginnings. Initially taken aback by the milestone, Janet quickly embraced the idea of aging as an opportunity. “I’ve never been fussed about age, but turning 70 shocked me. I was just like, ‘Fuck. That’s so old!’ Then I just thought, this is ridiculous. I’ve got plenty of years left. So I formulated the idea then.”
Her late husband’s disapproval of tattoos had previously deterred her. “My husband always hated tattoos, but I saw them as works of art. I wouldn’t have had one while he was alive because it would have upset him.” Following his passing in 2017, after years of Janet being his dedicated caregiver, she felt a sense of liberation and a desire to prioritize her own needs and desires. “He passed away in 2017. I had been his carer for many years and gave up work in 2010 to nurse him 24/7. When he died, he had just been diagnosed with his fourth cancer, he had an aortic aneurysm, he’d had open heart surgery – we’d been through the mill. We were married nearly 50 years, and I’d given up a lot of my life to care for him. Not that I’m complaining – he’d have done it for me – but I thought, it’s my time now.”
Amsterdam, a city she had grown to love during respite breaks while caring for her husband, became the chosen location for her new life and her first tattoo. “When I was a carer, I had two weeks’ respite a year and used to come to Amsterdam. It felt like home. When he died, I knew I wanted to live here. It’s the start of my new life, and I had my tattoo done in Amsterdam.” Dismissing concerns about pain, Janet focused on the symbolic significance of the act. “Everybody said, ‘Oh, it’s so painful!’ I’m sorry – you’ve had two kids and you’ve been a carer and haven’t slept for years – a tattoo is nothing!”
Janet selected a Charles Rennie Mackintosh rose, inspired by a visit to the Glasgow School of Art years prior. “I’ve got a Charles Rennie Mackintosh rose. I went to Glasgow about 20 years ago and visited the Glasgow School of Art – it blew me away. My tattoo is beautiful, I love it. I had it done for me and I don’t care what anybody else thinks because that’s not important. I suppose it was the statement: yes, I might be 70, but I could still do new things.” Her tattoo stands as a personal declaration of independence, self-expression, and the exciting possibilities of life after 70.
