GOT SOME RACIST INK YOU WANT ERASING?
Artist David is offering to cover up hateful tattoos for free
ARTIST David Ward is offering a lifeline to cash-strapped customers wanting to forget their past mistakes – by removing people’s ‘racist’ tattoos for free.
The 44-year-old is providing the cover-up service at Old School Ink which has recently opened at Tunstall Market.
He has been a tattoo artist for 15 years and previously had a shop in Hartshill.
And he estimates he has around 100 tattoos on his own body.
David, who lives in Mow Cop, said: “I got into it because my dad had a tattoo when I was young and he always told me that it was the biggest mistake of his life. Being the sort of natural rebel it made me want a tattoo.
“As soon as I was old enough I took the first bit of money I got, went to the tattoo studio, and got a tattoo.
“It’s a very satisfying job and it’s like a hobby for me too. I collect old pictures from old tattoo studios and am into tattoo history.
“Since opening it’s been really busy. I do all styles of tattoos.”
David says he has covered up around 30 offensive tattoos during his career.
The former doorman said: “The things I have seen are swastikas and any other German army symbols. There are also things like the BNP logo.
“I just find anything racist offensive. I never understood it and it’s not something I want to see. You wouldn’t accept somebody walking past with a T-shirt with something racist on it and a tattoo is even worse because it is permanent.
“I’ve got the skill to get rid of it and the motivation for people is that it is free and they are going to get something better.
“I’m a positive person and I don’t like racism in any way, shape or form.
“I’ve lived in Stoke-on-trent for 20 years. I just think there are a lot of issues that have been raised about racism and I thought it was a good time to put a positive thing out that there that something can be done if you have an offensive tattoo.
“Racism has no place in society, there never has been. I’m glad that more people are aware that there is no place in society for it.
“Designs are dependent on what the person wants and what the original design is. A lot of them are crudely done. A lot of them are homemade tattoos that they have done themselves.
“I have come across a lot that have been done in prison. It is known as stick and poke where they get a needle and ink and do them like that. They are quite easy to cover up.
“I don’t like those tattoos and they are a disgrace – they give tattoos a bad name. It’s hugely satisfying for me to get rid of them.”
Old School Ink tattoo studio opens on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 9am and 5pm.