I’m Britain’s most tattooed man – I’ve spent £40,000 on ink but now I’m giving it up… here’s why
BRITAIN’S most tattooed man, who has spent over £40,000 on inkings, has revealed why he’s giving them up.
The body mod enthusiast, who legally changed his name to King Of Ink Land King Body Art The Extreme Ink-ite, has had to hold back on new artwork amid financial concerns.
The 43-year-old, who goes by Body Art for short, explained that he is putting his tatt habit on hold for the next four years as he bids to clear his £66,000 mortgage.
Formerly known as Matthew Whelan, hopes to pay off the debt before resuming his extreme art journey.
Body Art, from Birmingham, West Midlands, told NeedToKnow: “Getting tattoos can be an addiction, however, this is a lifestyle for me, which I can start and pause whenever I please.
“I’m taking a break from being inked while I concentrate on clearing my mortgage, so I’ll be slowing down over the next few years.”
He explained that he may still get tattoos “every other year” but will be departing from his usual schedule.
The actor also has a budgeting plan in place to make sure he pays off the sum.
However, he said that he will be “happy” to slow down in order to clear the debt.
Body Art, who first got into body modification when he was nine, claims to have spent more than 1,500 hours being inked and was once worked on by a record 36 artists work on him simultaneously.
His work includes full body tatts, blackout cover-ups, stained eyeballs and even having his nipples removed.
He added: “I am living an abbreviation of my name, B Art, as I’m being art in my life no matter what others say or think of my tattoos.
“They [the tattoos] are part of my journey, and I will go on to evolve more at some point in the future – just not anytime soon.”
Body Art, then Matthew, got his first ink aged 16, with a picture of a bulldog on his right arm.
The tattoo proved to be a glimpse into the future as he has just got an English Bulldog named Mary as he looks forward to settling down.
It comes after Body Art claimed he was being discriminated against by his bank – but not for his appearance.
He has also claimed that he was hidden from bosses at work over his tatts and slammed “shallow” women for judging him on them.