British tattoo artist memorializes son with ashes in tattoo ink

A tattoo artist in Britain is paying tribute to his son by mixing the boy’s ashes with ink for a memorial tattoo.

Mark Richmond, 39, lost his son Ayden to a rare condition that left the boy unable to process fats. Ayden was two years, four months old at the time of his death, and Richmond and wife Lisa wanted a “lasting tribute” to Ayden. Richmond was inspired to do the tattoo while inking another grieving father, dad of murder victim Sophie Lancaster. Richmond said:

“He wanted a portrait of Sophie done as a way to help heal the scars of losing his daughter and I thought that’s something I’d like to have done too.”

Mr Richmond said he still “feels at a loss and a little bit angry” about losing Ayden.

He has not been to visit his grave yet in Evesham, Worcestershire, and said he hoped the tattoo would help him cope.

Richmond plans to use the ink in a 7? black and white portrait tattoo, and that his wife intends to get one as well after their fourth child is born. He said some people are judgmental about the plan, but he intends to go forward with it Wednesday:

“Some people might think it’s a bit morbid, but until they have been through what we have, I don’t think they can really judge us.”

[BBC]