Feature: Tattoos As Body Art And The Reasons For Their Boom In Popularity

Published on: 4 Sep, 2026
Updated on: 4 Sep, 2026

Tattoos often represent something important in your life, says the team at Epic Tattoos in Guildford

Tattoos are now an established part of the cultural mainstream. Once linked in people’s minds to criminal gangs or sailors, they are now a familiar form of self-expression and according to a 2024 YouGov poll, 40 per cent of 25-49 year-olds have at least one tattoo. Here, Dragon reporter David Reading asks: What exactly is behind their popularity?

In the 1969 sci-fi film “The Illustrated Man” Rod Steiger plays Carl, a man whose entire body is covered in tattoos. Carl insists they are not to be called tattoos, but only “skin illustrations”. In the story based on work by Ray Bradbury, his “illustrations” represent visions of terrifying futures.

Audiences in the 1960s found the image of Carl’s body startling. Full-bodied tattoos had never before been portrayed in Western cinema, and film-makers seem to have considered skin modification something of a taboo.

Things have changed. This week, in Guildford High Street, I passed a man whose entire visible parts – arms, legs and yes, even his face and head – were covered in tattoos. Although this is a rare extreme, it’s clear that the extensive tattooed look is now a familiar part of modern culture.

Although we shouldn’t be too quick to judge another person’s life choices, it is difficult for the inquiring mind not to ask questions. What inspired him to do it? Is he happy with the way he looks or does he regret it? Couldn’t he have found a less extreme way of standing out in a crowd, like wearing an unusual hat? What happens if he wakes up one morning and decides he wants a change of career (Civil service? Police force? Banking?).

Thiago, one of the team at Epic Tattoos, began as an artist in Brazil and his passion for art led him to his true calling.

Becks and the team at Epic Tattoos in Guildford are familiar with the reasons why body art is now so popular.

“The biggest change is that people are much more comfortable expressing themselves now, and tattoos are a great way to do that,” Becks said. “A tattoo is essentially a piece of art that becomes part of you and follows you wherever you go. It can represent your personality, your experiences or something important in your life.

“There’s also far less stigma around tattoos now. You see them on people from all professions and backgrounds, and social media has also exposed people to incredible artists and styles from all over the world.”

Clearly, celebrities and sports people have driven the popularity of body art. Even Prime Minister Andy Burnham has a tattoo – a bee on his right bicep.

But why do people go for extensive tattooing? “Self-expression is definitely a big part of that,” Becks said. “For some people every tattoo has a meaning, while others simply love the artwork and enjoy collecting pieces from different artists.

“There really isn’t one ‘type’ of person who gets tattooed anymore. We see people of all ages, professions, backgrounds, classes and races coming through the studio. The other day we had a lady in her 70s come in for her first tattoo. That’s one of the things I love about the industry now. Tattooing really does cut across every walk of life.”

When it comes to design, names, dates and numbers are still popular, particularly images representing partners, children, family members or important moments in someone’s life. The team at Epic Tattoos also see a lot of tattoos connected to faith, loved ones who have died, or personal experiences.

Many people who have tattoos simply love the artwork

According to Becks, some people do regret what they’ve done. “We do quite a lot of cover-up work, where an artist transforms an older tattoo into something completely different. Some people prefer full removal, which is normally done through laser. We don’t currently offer laser removal, but it is something we’re looking to introduce.”

Price really depends on size, detail and time. The studio’s minimum is £80, while a full-day session is around £600.

Larger pieces such as full sleeves can take several sessions, so at that point you’re really commissioning a substantial piece of artwork.

While there are some signs that the cultural boom of body art is cooling down – perhaps because of economic pressures – tattoos as a whole do not seem to be going out of fashion.