A one-handed tattoo artist has spoken out about having to adapt to carry on working.
Chris Scott, 60, suffered a stroke which had devastating consequences for his right side, meaning he had to learn to ink one handed.
He lost the use of his right hand and developed a limp, which also meant he could no longer drive a motorbike – his old bike now stands in his shop as a display item.
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Chris has owned Custom Tattoo in Stonegate Road, Meanwood, for almost 20 years - but only five years into owning his own parlour, Chris could have been finished.
A tattoo artist usually uses two hands to ink a tattoo, one to press the needle and the other to tighten the skin.
Chris, who also has had difficulty speaking since the stroke, said: “It’s quite difficult but I learned and adapted.
“I’d have been shut a long time ago if I didn’t.
“It’s about positioning and controlling fingers on my left arm to stretch the skin. It’s not too bad.”
Chris initially had a difficult time after the stroke but he fortunately had good friends who acted as guinea pigs, allowing him to practice one handed on them for a free of charge, despite slightly wonky, tattoo. This was before the days when artificial skin was available, according to Chris.
The Leeds man, originally from Huddersfield, said: “I had to learn all over again when I first came out of the hospital. It was crap, whatever that’s it, but that’s that.
“I had some good mates – this was long before fake skin came out – who let me practice on them.”
Fellow tattoo artist Tim Brown, 62, who rents a room in Chris’s shop and old friend, said: “It was difficult for him. You can’t really do much other than stretch the skin for him. I don’t know any other tattoo artist who can only use one hand.
“It was tough but as you can see, he’s still here. I was also concerned that my job here might also be over.”
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Chris has the words ‘Rock’ and ‘Roll’ inked onto his knuckles and tattoos plastered all over his body. He’s always been passionate about capturing an image on skin. He was desperate about not giving up on his dream job.
Chris’s message to others who face similar debilitating problems was: “Just do it. You’ve got to be passionate. Just do it. That’s how you overcome something.”
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