Farmers with ink: tattoos of land, legacy, and livestock

Tattoos have long been a form of self-expression, and increasingly, farmers are embracing this art to represent their passion for agriculture, personal stories, and values.

These tattoos are more than just designs; they tell tales of hard work, passion for the land, and a deep connection to the past.

Whether showcasing the animals they raise, values they hold dear, or tributes to loved ones and loved tractors, these designs serve as permanent reminders of unique lives in agriculture.

Farmers Weekly meets a diverse group of inked farmers and delves into the meaning behind their body art.

See also: Pigs, pubs, and pints provide farmer with new opportunity

Charlie Breakspear

Charlie Breakspear, from Berkshire, works alongside her family on their cattle and sheep farm.

For her and her siblings, getting matching tattoos was a way to bond over their shared love of farming.

“Me, my sister Becky and brother George all wanted a matching tattoo, but wanted it related to what we love, and that being farming we felt this was the best choice,” Charlie says.

Their tattoos spell the word “Love”, with each letter depicting something relating to farming: the “L” is a wellie, the “O” a cow, the “V” corn, and the “E” a fence.

It’s a meaningful tribute to their family’s dedication to farming.

Charlie also has another tattoo—a portrait of her alpaca, “Choccy”, who was born on their farm.

“I grew up with her. Sadly she is no longer with us, but having her portrait means I have her with me every day,” Charlie says.

Lisa Richardson

For Lisa Richardson, the tattoo that defines her is a tribute to the Ford 7610 tractor her father owned during her childhood.

“My Dad had an A-reg Ford 7610 when I was growing up. I love these tractors and still want to own one. He taught me how to drive it when I was young.

This stayed with me, and I searched tirelessly for the shape of the back of a 7610 for this tattoo,” Lisa says.

Growing up in a farming family, she went on to establish a community interest company that supports the emotional and mental health of farmers in Lancashire.

“This tattoo reminds me of where I’ve come from and keeps me motivated to do what I do, no matter how hard it can sometimes be.”

Jo Biffen

Jo Biffen’s tattoos serve to remind her of her roots, despite leaving the family farm.

“I had a tractor inked on my forearm for my 30th birthday, and on my calf, I have the arable crops that my father has grown – wheat, barley, and oilseed rape,” she says.

Though she left the farm for university in Edinburgh, Jo’s connection to agriculture has never wavered.

Her nickname, “Farmer Flo,” which she embraced during her time in the city, is a nod to her West Country roots and love of tractors.

Both tattoos are a tribute to her dad.

“I’m very close to my father and so, while I don’t farm, I’m a farmer in my heart and so I got these tattoos to remind me of my roots,” Jo says.

Christopher Moss

For Christopher Moss, farming and tattooing are intertwined in a unique way.

“I’m the only farmer in the country who tattoos, and the only tattooist in the country who farms,” he says.

Starting his career by inking pigs for identification on his childhood farm, Christopher’s move into full-scale tattooing was almost arbitrary.

“I fell into tattooing simply by allowing another artist to shoot our rabbits. He was grateful and knew I was struggling to find work due to foot and mouth, so offered me a lifeline,” he says.

Two decades later, Christopher runs his own farm in addition to his tattoo studio, combining both passions.

“We’ve 36 acres and I’ve now recently relocated my town centre studio to our farm. So technically our farm shop is a tattoo studio,” he says.

Georgina Higton

Georgina Higton’s tattoo tells the story of her deep bond with her first calf, a gift from her father when she was just nine years old.

“She was the first of my own herd, which we have managed to build up from 60 cows milking when I was nine, to 150 milking at the age of 26,” Georgina says.

The tattoo honours the cow, which passed away after failing a TB test.

“We could not send her away to a TB abattoir, so we had her put down on the farm where she had happily spent her 14 years with me. It broke my heart,” she says.

This tattoo serves as a tribute to the cow that started her journey into farming and to the deep connection she feels for the animals in her care.

Stephen Crisp

Stephen Crisp’s tattoos contain a rich tapestry of his farming history.

The intricate designs incorporate the first tractor he drove, a David Brown 996, and the Ford 7810, which he bought aged 16.

Stephen has farmed all his life, mainly beef and sheep, and wanting to commemorate his roots:

“The signpost tattoo is Whalley Farm in Lancashire, where I farmed for 25 years before moving to Cornwall. The cows, pigs, and sheep are all animals I have kept over the years,” he explains.

Stephen spent about 120 hours working with an artist to ensure all of his tattoos held significant meaning, wanting to show how deeply farming is woven into his identity.

Jack Yates

For Jack Yates, a rugby trip to Florida saw him get permanently branded as a Farmers Weekly enthusiast.

Working on the Business desk in 2017, Jack chose to get a tattoo of the FW app logo to commemorate his time with the organisation.

“I had become a passionate advocate for a community I was relatively new to,” he explains.

When the publication rebranded shortly after his tattoo, Jack feared his ink would quickly become outdated.

However, the then-editor kept the old logo unchanged, saving Jack from the potential embarrassment of sporting an obsolete design!

Joseph Charlton

“I have a new Holland t7 blue power edition for my grandad, who was a farmer.”

Adam Townsend

“I have a sheep and lamb tattooed on my inner bicep. I live on a mixed livestock farm in Derbyshire, where we have 450 pigs and about 300 sheep.”