The man responsible for dozens of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s tattoos has admitted that he has mixed feelings about his work with the star.
Tattoo artist Kevin Paul described working with the superstar singer as being both the ‘best and worst’ thing to happen in his career.
Online trolls often mock Sheeran’s tattoos, which often lead to Paul having to admit that they might have a point.
He said: “I agree with most of it, his tattoos aren’t very good.
“And I take the piss out of Ed all the time, when I’m with him, that they are s***. They are! But every single thing that he’s got is personal to him.”
As well as Sheeran, Paul has worked with many other celebrities including Rhianna, Harry Styles and Cara Delevingne.
He has drawn 40 tattoos on to Sheeran’s skin, including a joint session with the former One Direction singer.
Paul said: “Him and Harry Styles had Pingu tattooed on them and they had it done because that was the cartoon they liked as a child.
“And it does look s*** but it’s what they wanted, it’s a personal memory and it means something to them.
“It definitely changed things, I was a big massive artist doing 3D-work and winning multi awards.
“And then all of a sudden you end up doing Pingu the Penguin and f****** gingerbread men on popstars.
“And all that client base just dies off but the doorways it has opened for me are much bigger.”
Paul added that although he may have lost some of his client base for his more sophisticated work, he has no regrets about working with Sheeran.
He said: “The thing is with Ed, he is the best thing to happen to my career and the worst. Before I started working with celebs l was a multi award winning artist doing great work.
“Then after doing Ed, mainly that client base dropped off and I was known for doing tacky little cartoon style tattoos for him and Harry Styles.
“Everybody just thought I was s*** but I’m not. I do great realism work that’s what I won awards for.
“I’m the artist known for Ed’s tattoos but I only do the main bits, all the little bits are done by his manager’s mate.
“I just get the blame for them but I don’t regret working with them as it’s changed my life and opened amazing doors for me to do great things.”
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling
