A Telford skin artist is offering loved-up couple an alternative to the traditional wedding this Valentine’s Day after claiming he is the only ordained tattooist in Telford.
Winston Gomez, from King Kats tattoo on Queen Street in Wellington, is now an ordained minister after applying online at the Universal Life Church.
Mr Gomez, or the Right Rev Gomez, has been offering blessings for around six years free of charge and has tattooed people’s marriage bands while they sit in their tuxes and wedding dresses.
He said: “I don’t think anyone else is ordained in Telford and I’m possibly the only one in the country.
“I have blessed about 30 people since being ordained.
“We had a couple who were married in Wellington and then came here after the ceremony to get the rings done.
“That was lovely because I did it on the day they were married and they were in full dress - she was in her wedding dress.
“A week ago I did some rings from a Telford couple who got them instead of getting married.
“When people ask to have rings done I ask if they want them blessed.
“A lot of people have it done because it is not religious and I do a lot of people who are into paganism.”
Mr Gomez, who has been tattooing for around 27 years, said he has drawn a number of different ring designs including, claddagh, celtic and ones that look like gold rings.
He said it takes him around 20 minutes to do one ring and they cost between £25 and £40.