Tattoo shop has perfect shape for Ed
TATTOO artists are used to receiving unusual requests.
But staff from a Slaithwaite tattoo shop couldn’t believe their luck when they were personally invited to ink a megastar just hours before he performed to 80,000 fans.
Artists from Slawit Ink were told months earlier that pop star Ed Sheeran had requested a new tattoo at the end of his worldwide Divide tour in Leeds.
So, when the confirmation came through the day before his sellout gig at Roundhay Park opened in August, the team were ready for action.
Katy Joyce, who owns the shop with husband Paul, said: “Ed’s lighting manager had a tattoo done here and returned to the tour, where Ed saw it, and he asked him to set something up for when they were in Leeds.
“We knew about it quite a while before, but it wasn’t until the night before that we got the email with all the directions. It was so exciting.
“We did 12 tattoos in total and Ed’s was the last one.
“It was the most unreal experience of our lives. We were treated so well and given access all areas. He was just so nice and down to earth.”
The team did various tattoos for 11 crew members on the tour, before moving on to finally ink Ed’s back with a design so personal to him, they’ve been sworn to secrecy.
Katy explained: “He’s covered in tattoos all over his body but he said he’s saving space on his back for his family and one day his kids.
“All I can say is that it was a small one, of a sentimental nature, on his back.
“He told us once his back is finished he is going to reveal it but until then it’s secret.”
Colleague Paul Armstrong did the artwork on the Shape Of You star. The team then got to hang around backstage to watch the show as VIPs, meeting the likes of support act Lewis Capaldi and England football manager Gareth Southgate.
They were also treated to free food and drink in return for the free tattoos they’d done.
“Naturally Paul was a bit nervous but Ed was so down to earth and made everyone feel at ease,” said Katy. “It was an experience we will never forget – it was amazing.”