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ABC News
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Sailors to bikies — How tattooing became mainstream
Rhys Gordon has been tattooing for over 30 years. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) Tattoos have a long and rich history in Australia, but they have often been limited to an artistic subculture. This is the story of how they went mainstream. In the back corner of tattoo artist Rhys Gordon's studio in Sydney's inner city is a part of Australian history unknown to many. The walls are covered in graffiti, old tattoo designs and other memorabilia, while ribbons, trophies and plaques litter other parts of the room, won by artists who have shaped the industry into what it is today. The collection spans decades and is the result of Gordon's work documenting the history of tattoos in Australia. The tattoo artist has now packed up his collection and moved to the Gold Coast, where he has set up a new studio and one day hopes to open a museum. Mr Gordon inherited a large portion of his collection from artist Greg Ardron. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) Mr Gordon travelled across the east coast of Australia to visit tattoo artists and grow his collection. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) Mr Gordon has a collection of tattoo machines built by icons of the industry. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) Tattooing is one of the world's most enduring forms of self-expression. And in Australia, it can be traced back to the bodies of weather-worn sailors, Gordon says. In the early days of the industry, tattoos were taboo. But much of that stigma has faded. "The social acceptance is at an all-time high," Gordon tells ABC Radio National's Sunday Extra. Now, one in four Australians wear ink. So, how did it go from subculture to mainstream? Many of the designs created in the 1960s are still popular with clients today. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) Mr Gordon has now moved his collection from Sydney to the Gold Coast. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) A popular pastime among sailors Body modification in Australia began with First Nations people through scarification and ceremonial body paint, rather than tattooing as we know it today. Between 1823 and 1853, approximately 37 per cent of male convicts and 15 per cent of female convicts who arrived here were adorned with tattoos. And many picked up the trade from settlers seeking fortune during the Gold Rush in the 1850s. While there have been accounts of other tattooers, the first widely-known commercial tattoo studio in Australia was run by Fred Harris in Sydney. John Hennington covered his body in tattoos, spending approximately £ 100 on his ink. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd. ) Around 1916, Mr Harris opened up a small shop in Sussex Street, where he tattooed thousands of clients, including lots of sailors. Some of the popular designs requested by sailors came from old sailing superstitions. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd. ) "The sailors had a particular style of tattoos. So you'd get tattoos for 5,000 nautical miles [that] would be a swallow," says Geoffrey Barker, senior curator at the State Library of New South Wales. "Or if you were travelling around Cape Horn, you'd have a full-rigged ship. There was a whole enterprise around marking your body to say what you've done and your career." For the first half of the 20th century, popular tattoo designs among men included women, animals and sportsmen, says Mr Barker. Butterfly and flower patterns were the most requested by women, who joined the tattoo craze in the 1920s. Cosmetic tattooing, which refers to tattoos drawn on the eyebrows, cheeks and lips, also became popular. But many women in the tattoo industry at this time were typecast as the "tattooed lady trope," says Paige Klimentou, a tattoo academic at RMIT University. A Melbourne woman named Alexia claimed to be Australia's first "tattooed girl". ( National Library of Australia ) Alexia did not use any local anaesthetics, a method often used by other tattooed women. ( National Library of Australia ) "In a western context, [tattooed] women were often the sideshow freaks or sideshow attractions," she adds. "More often than not they were either coerced or put into these roles whether they wanted to be 'tattooed women' or not." War brings tattooing boom With World War I and World War II came a wave of patriotism and a shift in tattoo trends. Soldiers seeking patriotic emblems sparked a boom in tattooing along the east coast. In 1940, Fred Harris told The Sun that Allied flags, kangaroos and maps of Australia were some of the most in-demand designs. War had also brought many American soldiers to our doorstep. Those who visited Harris' shop requested the words "Remember Pearl Harbour, December 7, 1941". Meanwhile, Germans and people of German heritage who had called Australia home for some time came to Harris' shop "to have the old German flag removed". Regular people were also getting behind the trend. Butterflies were a popular tattoo design among men and women. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd. ) In 1945, 'Le Roy', a tattoo artist from Brisbane, told the Sunday Mail women handle the pain of tattooing better than men. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd. ) Thigh pieces were popular among Harris's female clients who liked to show off their tattoos through openwork stockings. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd. ) "Sailor Bill" attempted to become the most tattooed man in Australia. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd. ) John Hennington was a rival of "Sailor Bill", both claiming to be the most tattooed men in Australia. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd. ) In the early days of the tattoo industry, artists were limited in how they could customised designs. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd. ) Tattoo artist Billy Furness says there was a "tremendous increase" in civilian clients in 1940s Melbourne, particularly on Flinders Street, which became a cultural hub for the profession. In 1952, it was reported that Australia was one of the most tattooed nations in the world. "Many of the subjects are he-men from the outback, but most enthusiasts are sailors," a reporter declared. One Bondi local even asked tattooist Alex 'painless' Chater to tattoo his will on his back. According to the Daily Mirror, Alex "painless" Chater learnt how to tattoo by using a gramophone needle attached to a clothes peg. ( Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales ) It did not hold up in court, partly because he wouldn't have been able to sign his back in front of two witnesses. "[It's] quite impossible, even if he were a contortionist," a Sydney solicitor told The Sun in 1950. "After a person dies, a will must be produced for probate and filed. That would be more than slightly awkward." Supply shortages and stigma After World War II, artists struggled to source supplies with reports of colour shortages. Tattoo guns were also hard to obtain from overseas vendors, so many artists built their own. Sydney-based artist, Wally Hammond often built machines, and sold them to other artists after entering the industry in 1942. Thousands of sheets of pre-drawn tattoos or "flash" covered the walls of Mr Hammond's studio, which clients could choose from. Hammond would often test out new pigments on his own skin before applying them to customers, leaving multicolour dots along his forearms. "Sometimes [the] body would reject it or it would blister up. So he knew that code [was] not to be used," says Gordon. "So there's a lot of personal sacrifice, one of those things where necessity becomes the mother of invention." Within a few short decades, Australia's tattoo subculture was firmly established. But by the time the 1970s rolled around, new stigmas arrived. Sterilisation of tattooing equipment was limited, with artists often using the same needle on different clients, tattoo artists say. And some doctors blamed a lack of sterile tattoo equipment for the spread of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and later HIV. However, with the AIDS epidemic and the formation of the Professional Tattooers Association of Australia [PTAA] there was an overhaul of sterilising practices in the industry. By the early 1990s, tattoo artists began pushing the boundaries, creating more custom pieces and transforming the profession from a trade to an art form. "There are no limitations, tattooing has become a medium just like any other art medium. That's why it has attracted artists," Greg Ardron, a pioneer of 'sticker style' tattoo sleeves, told the ABC in 1992. 'Tattooing is no place for women' Tattoo artist Pasty Farrow started dabbling with ink in 1969. She believes she was Australia's third female tattoo artist after Bev Nicholas, better known as Cindy Ray, and Raelene Robinson. In 2009, Ms Farrow was presented with an award for working as a professional tattoo artist for over 40 years. ( Supplied: Patsy Farrow ) Patsy Farrow says in the 60s and 70s, studios didn't have fancy names but were just called tattoo shops. ( Supplied: Patsy Farrow ) Patsy Farrow and Bev Nicholas developed a strong friendship over their love of tattooing. ( Supplied: Patsy Farrow ) Farrow says her decision to pursue the profession was thanks to Nicholas' encouragement and guidance. However, not all members of the industry were encouraging. She recalls how famous Melbourne tattoo artist Dickie Reynolds wouldn't allow any women in his studio and would even scream at them to leave if he heard them approaching. At one meeting of the Tattooers Association of Victoria, he did not allow Farrow to even speak. "Tattooing is no place for a woman," he said, according to Farrow. Reynolds was eventually forced to apologise for his remarks. Tattooing remained a heavily male-dominated industry for the years to follow. When tattooist Clare Hampshire joined the industry in 2003, she was the only woman in her studio. It remained that way for the first ten years of her career. "There were always people that would not take you seriously because you're a girl," she says. "And being a male dominated industry, [it] wasn't a very comfortable place to be as a woman. But I just sucked it up because I wanted to tattoo." In the period between 2018 and 2020, the industry had its own "Me Too" movement, where artists felt empowered to call out predatory behaviour, says Hampshire. Clare Hampshire says a lot of young women visit her studio for their first tattoo. ( Supplied: Clare Hampshire ) "It really made a lot of people think about their behaviour and actions … I think a lot of men got really scared by it." Hampshire says the industry has come a long way since then, with greater visibility of female artists. "You go to conventions now or you go to shops and the ratio is … maybe not 50/50 but just about," she says. "I have a shop that's all women at the moment, nothing at all like that ever existed when I started." Bikie stranglehold on industry Tattoos now attract Australians from all walks of life but in the earlier days of the industry, they were commonly associated with outlaw motorcycle gangs. Born out of the disenfranchisement of ex-servicemen, homegrown motorcycle gangs emerged in Australia in the late 60s and early 70s, says Duncan McNab, ex-police detective and crime writer. "Tattooing is part of the tribal nature of bike gangs, mutual identification, all that sort of stuff," he says. McNab estimates by the early 1980s the criminal activity of motorcycle gangs, or bikies, increased. Often they used businesses, such as tattoo studios, to legitimise illicit money. "Tattoo shops … were a convenient way to push illicit money through, that's before tattoos went really legit," he says. Sydney tattoo industry legend Tony Cohen is the owner of tattoo parlour, Illustrated Man. He was also an original member of the Mob Shitters motorcycle club, which formed in 1970 and folded in 2015. Tony Cohen was first exposed to tattoos through his uncle, who got inked during World War II. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) Mr Cohen has memories of bikie gangs "blowing up shops and all that sort of shit". Although he stresses he was never personally involved. "Obviously they hated each other's guts," he says. "[I] became friends with a lot of people, high-ranking members of different clubs — which kept the peace in a way." By the late 2000s, bikie gangs had intensified their criminal activity and tightened their grip on the tattoo industry, says Gordon. The violence peaked when artist Daniel Vella was shot execution style whilst he was tattooing a client. Mr Vella had no known bikie affiliations and the case remains unsolved. To stamp out criminal activity from the industry, the NSW and Queensland governments have introduced strict licensing laws. All tattoo operators now need to disclose detailed information about their personal associations, criminal history and be fingerprinted. Mr Cohen started tattooing after buying tattoo equipment from a man he met in a pub in 1967 when he was 17. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) Mr Cohen has hundreds of photos categorised by year in albums, documenting his extensive career. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) Mr Cohen says it's the boldness of his designs that made his work stand out. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) McNab says licensing laws, such as those in the tattoo industry, don't stop criminal activity but can help police gather intelligence. "Organised crime thrives in prohibition more than anything else," he says. One unexpected downside of the laws, according to Gordon, is that they have added to the stigmatisation of the industry. "Nearly 15 years later, [with] these licensing systems we're still being discriminated against," he says. "Insurance is still an issue [as] they consider us a high risk business … we're not the bad guys, we are just trying to put tattoos on people." 'A glimpse into the world of tattooing' The social acceptance of tattoos was a slow burn, says Michael Forest, an artist and tattoo history enthusiast. The introduction of tattoo-based reality TV shows on popular studios and social media helped the general public develop a greater understanding of the industry. Mr Gordon says the tattoo industry has been impacted by cost of living pressures. ( ABC Radio National: Isabella Michie ) "I think tattoo TV, [shows] like Miami Ink, all that sort of stuff definitely gave people a glimpse into the world of tattooing and saw more artistic value in it," he says. These shows often explored the customers' motivation for getting tattoos and the diverse range of people who visited studios. Apprentices would also receive feedback on their designs from more experienced artists, teaching the audience the attributes of a good tattoo. Forest also believes that as more celebrities became heavily tattooed, acceptance among the general public grew. Mr Forest says the increased visibility of heavily tattooed celebrities has helped shift public attitudes towards tattoos. ( Justin Bieber: via Def Jam, David Beckham and Dennis Rodman: via Getty ) Now, even political leaders are showing off their ink. However, Hampshire says this acceptance extends more to men than women. "It's quite common to see male models or male athletes really heavily tattooed but then you rarely ever see a mainstream female model [heavily tattooed]," she says. "Like if you look on ASOS or something, and you're scrolling through, you see models on there that are male that are covered in tattoos, and the women may have, like, one little small one on their arm or something." Social media has also helped artists develop strong followings, allowing clients to enter appointments with a greater understanding of the tattoo artist's portfolio, Hampshire says. "You only need to click a few buttons and you can explore and see people's portfolios, without ever having to go into a shop," she adds. "You can really do your homework, find an artist who has good, consistent work. I think there's kind of no excuse for getting a bad tattoo these days." Rhys Gordon has a room dedicated in his studio to Australian tattoo history memorabilia. ( ABC Radio Sydney: Isabella Michie ) While the industry continues to face stigma and challenges, Gordon says demand for the craft will never cease. "No-one can predict where it's going to go. But there will be more diversification, more acceptance, more uniqueness," he argues.
Glasgow Times
29-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
'Mystery' Glasgow woman behind musical donation revealed
I wanted to find out about the lady, a Mrs Henderson, who donated the famous Binns organ to the town hall in Kinning Park, but she proved very elusive. However, with the help of the Glasgow Times, and Special Collections at the Mitchell Library, we discovered Margaret Henderson, nee Anderson, was born in Glasgow in 1837. She married James Henderson, a carpenter employing 30 men, in 1855. They had four children: James, who died in 1890 aged 34, Thomas who died in 1879 aged 21, Janet (known as Jessie) and Margaret. (Image: Margaret Kitson) James ran Anderson & Henderson, builders, wrights and sawmillers who employed 164 men by 1881. He died in 1882 and left £17,398 - equivalent to £2.7million nowadays. Mrs Henderson and her two daughters donated the organ to Kinning Park Town Hall on the occasion of it opening in 1902. A report in our sister newspaper, the then Glasgow Herald, on October 10, 1902, said: 'The new Town Halls which have been erected in Kinning Park were formally opened last night by Mrs Gray, wife of Provost Gray. 'Provost Gray, in the course of an address, read the letter from Mrs Henderson, Mrs Anderson, and Mrs Mann giving to the community the large organ which has been placed in the hall, and expressed on behalf of the inhabitants their hearty appreciation of the gift.' Mrs Henderson died in 1903. I'm grateful to everyone who helped uncover the story of our organ, which now has pride of place in Dedham Parish Church. Margaret Kitson, Dedham (Image: Newsquest) Quest to find answers about old Glasgow park I was born June Munro in 1953 and my mum always said I was born on 'Rottenrow'. She has passed now, but I understood there was a park, possibly called Queen Elizabeth Park across from the hospital. I have an old photograph of my mum, dad, brother and me at the park – but I'm having trouble finding out if this is all accurate. Do any Times Past readers know if there was a park across the street from Rottenrow around that time? June Bervig, Glasgow Who remembers old Glasgow bar which was razed to the ground? I have just come across a recent Glasgow Times article about Keyden Street. My parents owned the Royal Bar at the corner with Scotland Street. I wonder if any readers remember it? The Royal dated back to about 1872 and was owned by wine and spirit merchant James Taylor, who lived at 5 Finnieston Street. He served the locals until the 1880s and during the 1890s the licence changed hands a few times, to owners including George Weir and James Simpson, Walter B Scott, and after the First World War, Charles McGarvey. My mum and dad Betty and William Connolly ran the pub in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. It was closed and razed to the ground in the 1970s to make way for the M8 motorway. Gerard Connolly, Glasgow Every day, we receive emails and letters from readers keen to share their memories of Glasgow. If you'd like to send us your stories and photos, email or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.
Glasgow Times
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Copies of world's first comic found in Barras donated to Glasgow
It might never have happened at all were it not for a lucky find at the Barras, explains the man who has generously donated his volume of The Glasgow Looking Glass to the Mitchell Library. Businessman Dr John Watson, former managing director of famous city printing firm John Watson & Co, is a direct descendant of the John Watson who printed the first editions of this famous comic. Dr Watson with the Glasgow Looking Glass (Image: Amy McLaughlin's Photography) After reading the Glasgow Times story about the 200th anniversary of the publication, he decided to donate the bound volume of issues to the city. John explains: 'The significance of the Glasgow Looking Glass cannot be underestimated. 'It was, of course, the first mass market satirical publication to use illustrations to tell stories and therefore has a unique place in the history of comics.' He adds: 'And it was seemingly lost in time, lying as it was among dusty folios at The Barras market.' READ NEXT: The Glasgow care home where residents with dementia are learning Italian It was discovered by Iain Milne, retired rugby internationalist and former sales director of Sun Chemicals, which supplied John Watson & Co with ink over many years. Startled by the find, Iain called John and handed it over to him for safekeeping. John adds: 'I was delighted to receive it and I'm very grateful to Iain for finding it. I'm even more delighted to be donating it to the city in this most special year, as Glasgow celebrates its 850th anniversary.' (Image: Amy McLaughlin's Photography) John, who recalls his father talking about premises in George Street, where Glasgow Looking Glass was originally printed, sold the business in 2013. Since his retirement, he focuses on helping charities through The Watson Foundation. He adds: 'This priceless publication remains a treasured possession - now in the safe keeping of the city - and it can be enjoyed by a modern-day audience who would like a comic glimpse into the past.' (Image: Amy McLaughlin's Photography) As part of the 200th anniversary of the publication of The Glasgow Looking Glass, John handed over his compendium to Susan Taylor, Special Collections librarian. Susan Taylor with The Glasgow Looking Glass (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Susan said: 'The Mitchell Library is delighted to accept this generous donation, with its unique provenance, that is, being donated by a direct descendant of the editor and printer of the Glasgow Looking Glass. 'We look forward to sharing it more widely with current and future generations.' The hand-over was part of Glasgow through the Looking Glass, a celebration to mark the anniversary, which also included talks by Dr Irene' O'Brien, senior archivist at Glasgow City Archives, Professor Laurence Grove of the University of Glasgow and Colin Maxwell of Maximised Comics, who presented the 'new' Glasgow Looking Glass for 2025, a publication full of the same irreverence as the original. (Image: Amy McLaughlin's Photography) Professor Grove said: 'Who would have believed that it's 200 years since comics were invented and they were invented in Glasgow? 'Maybe we should be giving that a little bit more attention as part of our world history. We're celebrating the 850 years of Glasgow; well, comics will last for more than 850 years to come.' The day ended with a comic-drawing workshop run by Glasgow Life assistant Jamie Miller, after which some of the budding comic artists kindly donated their drawings to the Special Collections department.
Daily Record
07-06-2025
- Daily Record
Riot cops storm Glasgow city centre streets as man arrested amid 'disturbance'
Pictures show a heavy police presence hours after emergency services were called to Kent Road, near St Vincent Street, around 4.45am on Saturday. Riot cops stormed streets in the centre of Glasgow following a six-hour "disturbance" this morning. Pictures shared with Glasgow Live show a heavy police presence after emergency services were called to Kent Road, near St Vincent Street, around 4.45am on Saturday. Officers closed four streets close to the Mitchell Library after being called to reports of a man 'causing a disturbance'. Berkeley Street, Granville Street, Kent Road and Cleveland Street have now reopened after a 27-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident. Local residents said they had been locked out of their flats for hours during the incident. Cops in riot gear were seen on the street and entering a tenement block and the police helicopter was spotted overhead. Police in climbing gear were also spotted at the scene. A man was filmed high up on scaffolding surrounding the block, and footage showed a man being led away by police. The Mitchell Library was unable to open during the incident. Police said there were no injuries as a result. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: 'All roads have now reopened following an earlier incident in Glasgow city centre. 'Around 4.45am on Saturday, June 7, 2025, we were called to a report of a man causing a disturbance on Kent Road near St Vincent Street. A number of nearby roads were closed while officers dealt with the incident. 'There were no injuries and there was no threat to the wider public. A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and enquiries are ongoing. 'Members of the public are thanked for their patience.'
Glasgow Times
07-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
10 pictures as Glasgow streets remain closed by police
PICTURES show a large police presence near to the Mitchell Library several streets remain locked down. Cops were called to a report of a man causing a disturbance near St Vincent Street at around 4.45am this morning (June 7). The Glasgow Times previously reported Berkeley Street at North Street, Granville Street at Sauchiehall Street, Kent Road from North Street to Elderslie Street, Cleveland Street and Cleveland Lane just north of Finnieston are currently closed as officers deal with the ongoing incident. READ NEXT: Library unable to open due to ongoing police incident (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) Photos taken at the scene this morning show several police cordons with a number of police vehicles in attendance. An officer was seen standing in the doorway of a building with scaffolding. Police have not revealed any further details about the nature of the incident but a photo shared on Reddit appears to show a person on the scaffolding. Members of the public have been asked to avoid the area and road users are advised to consider alternative routes. The Mitchell Library was not able to open at 9am as planned and several people were seen standing outside the building sheltering from the rain. (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)
