After being forced to confront his own problems during lockdowns, a TATTOO artist decided to host a flash-tattoo event in order to raise funds for a mental healthcare charity.
As well as making a name for himself as a tattoo artist, Glasgow-based Mark Worst is one of Scotland’s leading street artists, noted for his striking large-scale mural work.
His tattoos are instantly identifiable thanks to his inspiration from Art Nouveau’s intricate floral arrangements and Japanese tattoo culture.
In his early years of being an artist, Worst spent time refining his drawing skills. This can be seen in complex and precise compositions as well as his delicate whip shading which creates intricate textures in each of his tattoos. Since beginning his tattoo career over five years ago, Worst’s hugely popular work has seen him hold guest spots in studios across London, Derry and Rotterdam, with more international work on the horizon.
You have the chance to get tattooed by him, and help raise money for the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), at his Flash Tattoo Event in Glasgow on Saturday, Aug 13.
He stated that he hopes the event not only will raise funds for good causes but also inspire people to speak about their mental health.
“I’ve been looking for a way to raise money for a good cause for some time now, as it’s something I’ve never done before, and I’d like to start putting my talents to work towards influencing positive change,” he said.
“I figured a tattoo event could not only raise some money for charity but also get some conversation started between myself and my clients/audience online about mental health as I’ve had a positive experience with therapy and know the benefits of talking to someone about your problems.”
Worst added: “During lockdown in 2020, I wasn’t able to work for a long time which forced me to reflect on my own mental health. This led to me beginning the journey of therapy which helped me overcome a lot of issues that I wasn’t fully aware I had before I talked to someone. Not everyone has the means to access professional help, so I chose to raise funds for SAMH, who offer support and resources for people with mental health issues and work in a lot of communities across Scotland.”
His designs are inspired by the natural world.
“I’ve found that taking a day trip to walk through a forest or taking a dip in a loch has had a profound effect on my own mental health,” Worst said.
“The designs include floral compositions, frogs and dragonflies, and I’ll be releasing more in the week leading up to the event, where I’ll be tattooing as many designs as I can in one day.”
From 12pm Saturday, he will be in the Dusk and Rebirth City centre studios.
