Stephen James Hendry is a British model and a former professional footballer who played with the youth team of Scotland. The model was discovered in Barcelona and he models for Calvin Klein, Philipp Plein, Diesel, GQ Germany, GQ Spain, Adon Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine, El Pais Semanal, Sik Silk, and Windsor Smith. James is known for his heavily tattooed body and is also the proud owner of Elijah, a barbershop and tattoo shop in Barcelona, Spain. Let us take a look at the tattoos that he has on his body and explore their meanings.
Neck Tattoos
1. Lotus Tattoo
Tattoo: The front part of James’ neck contains a tattoo of a lotus flower on it.
Meaning: The lotus is a flower that blooms in the mud and is the symbol of hardship and struggle which is the reason why Stephen got this tattooed on his body.
2. Floral Pattern Tattoo
Tattoo: Both the sides of his neck, along with the back and sides of his head contain a large tattoo of a floral pattern on it. The pattern consists of different geometrical shapes tattooed inside it too and a pattern of lines and stars tattooed on the lower part of his neck. The pattern goes well with the tattoo of the lotus on the front of his neck and is a really intricate tattoo that took many sessions to finish.
Chest Tattoo
3. Design Tattoo
Tattoo: The model’s chest is covered by a huge design of petals, leaves, and henna inspired designs from Indian culture. The tattoo is really intricate, containing various designs that work well together.
Meaning: The whole tattoo is actually a crown for the face of the deity tattooed on his stomach as you’ll see soon.
Stomach Tattoos
4. Goddess Tattoo
Tattoo: James’ stomach contains a large tattoo of the face of a Hindu deity with her mouth open, revealing her fangs and a long tongue. There are large floral patterns tattooed on the sides of her face and she is adorned with heavy jewelry. The area below her chin is also filled by an intricate floral design that completes his entire stomach.
Meaning: The tattoo on his stomach is of the Hindu Goddess Kali, who is the Goddess of Time, Creation, Destruction and Power. Kali is the most powerful form of Shakti and is the destroyer of evil forces. Stephen’s body is inspired by many things he liked in his youth or some designs that he took fancy to. This is one of the tattoos that he really liked and wanted to get inked on his body. The backside of his body is a similar tattoo too.
5. Star Design Tattoo
Tattoo: Both sides of the model’s body contain the same tattoo of the geometric pattern of stars and lines found on the backside of his neck.
Back Tattoos
6. Triangle Tattoo
Tattoo: James’ upper back contains a triangle tattooed right in the middle of it and a larger, inverted one tattooed in the background. His upper back is also tattooed with a few geometrical lines and there are circular and grainy shaded regions that complete the upper back tattoo.
7. Demon Face Tattoo
Tattoo: The back of the model is covered in a large tattoo of the face of a demon from Hindu Mythology. The tattoo consists of fiery eyebrows, hollow eyes and intricate patterns on the nose and chin that covers all James’ back.
Meaning: The demon’s face itself is not symbolic to a specific one from the Hindu mythology but is just to show the incarnation of evil to go well with the theme on his torso.
Right Arm Tattoos
The tattoos on the right arm of the model follow a British theme and all the personalities, and the places he liked as a kid.
8. Queen Tattoo
Tattoo: The right shoulder of the model contains a large tattoo of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II along with the Union Jack tattooed to the right of her face.
Meaning: The British theme on his right arm would not really be complete without a tattoo of the Queen herself which is why he got this tattoo.
9. Ian Dury Tattoo
Tattoo: James’ right bicep contains a portrait of the famous singer, Ian Dury.
Meaning: Ian Dury and the blockheads were one of his favorites as a child which is the reason behind James getting this tattoo on his British themed arm.
10. Big Ben Tattoo
Tattoo: The upper right arm of the model contains a tattoo of Big Ben in London.
Meaning: Big Ben is one of the best landmarks of Great Britain which is why it made the cut to signify the theme of Britain on the model’s right arm.
11. Siouxsie Tattoo
Tattoo: The right upper arm of the model contains another tattoo of a portrait of a famous person that is Siouxsie Sioux.
Meaning: Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees were among the favorite bands of the model which made him get her tattoo on his arm too.
12. Star Tattoo
Tattoo: James’ right elbow is covered in a tattoo of a star that has been formed by two triangles, one straight and one inverted.
Meaning: The star design is actually called the Star of David and is one of the designs that Siouxsie used to wear a lot which is why Stephen got it on his arm too to go with the British theme. The Star of David is also present on many other parts of his body and represents his religious views too as it is a symbol of modern Jewish identity.
13. Robert Smith Tattoo
Tattoo: The upper side of his right forearm contains a large tattoo of a portrait of a young Robert Smith.
Meaning: Robert Smith from the rock band, The Cure is also one of the singers he liked most when he was a child which made him get the same tattooed on his arm.
14. Clock and Man Tattoo
Tattoo: The inner side of his right arm, just where his elbow folds contain a large tattoo of a clock with another one of his favorite people standing in front of the clock.
Meaning: The portrait is of the English singer, Morrissey who James’ used to listen to while growing up.
15. Portrait Tattoo
Tattoo: The inner part of his right forearm contains another portrait tattooed on it inside a little square.
Meaning: The portrait inside the square is of Frida Kahlo.
Left Arm Tattoos
Just like the right arm of the model follows a British theme, his left one is inspired by the work of Salvador Dali and consists of many of his portraits and works tattooed on it.
16. Dali Tattoo
Tattoo: There are several tattoos of Dali on his left arm. There is a large portrait of his face on the backside of his left upper arm.
There is another portrait of Dali on his shoulder along with flowers.
Just above his elbow is another one of Dali, with a brush in his hand, painting the forehead of a woman.
The upper side of his left forearm contains another one of Dali’s portraits along with some of his paintings tattooed near it.
The inner side of his left forearm contains another one of his portraits where Dali is looking at himself in the mirror. The hair of the portrait also contains two faces which are also Dali’s.
Meaning: The left arm is covered in portraits of Salvador Dali as James is a huge fan of his work and personality.
Hand Tattoos
17. Dali Tattoo
Tattoo: There is another portrait of Salvador Dali on his left hand which goes well with the theme of his left arm. The name, “Dali” is also tattooed on the side of his left palm.
Meaning: James is a huge fan of Salvador Dali and his work, and has many tattoos of him all over his left arm.
18. Wilete Tattoo
Tattoo: The upper side of his right hand contains another portrait tattooed on it along with the name, “Wilete” tattooed on the side of his palm.
19. Symbols Tattoo
Tattoo: Each of the model’s finger contains the same symbol tattooed on it except his middle ones. The middle finger of his right hand contains a drop tattooed on it and the middle finger of his left one contains another tattoo of the Star of David.
Meaning: The Star of David is a symbol of the Jewish identity and represents the religious views of the model.
20. Letters Tattoo
Tattoo: All of James’ fingers and thumbs contains a letter tattooed on it. The ones on his right hand are, ” R, O, A, D, and T” and the ones on his left one are, ” O, Z, I, O, and N”. There are also dots tattooed below each letter.
Meaning: The letters together make the sentence, “Road to Zion” which is the name of a song by Damian Marley and one of James’ favorites.
21. Symbol Tattoo
Tattoo: There is a symbol in the shape of a cross along with a smaller symbol tattooed inside the spaces between the lines of the X on the left hand of the model.
22. Anchor Tattoo
Tattoo: James’ right hand, contains a tattoo of an anchor on his thumb.
23. Skull Tattoo
Tattoo: The inside of his left hand contains an intricate tattoo of a skull on it.
Leg Tattoos
24. Deity Tattoo
Tattoo: James’ left thigh on the inner side contains another tattoo of a Hindu Deity on it.
25. Woman Tattoo
Tattoo: The outer side of his left thigh contains a tattoo of a portrait of a woman on it. There is another portrait of a woman on the upper side of James’ left thigh and a flower tattooed just above her face. There is also a skull tattooed above the flower.
26. Flower Tattoo
Tattoo: Stephen’s left thigh contains a tattoo of a flower on it.
27. Sexual Healing Tattoo
Tattoo: The upper right thigh of the model is covered in a tattoo of a man kneeling down, with rings and planets around him, along with the words, “Sexual Healing” tattooed on the inner side of Stephen’s right thigh.
28. Trident Tattoo
Tattoo: Both knees of the model contain tattoos of a little trident tattooed on it surrounded by a geometric pattern that covers the surrounding areas of his knees.
Meaning: The trident is made in the form of a “Trishool” which is what a trident is called in Hindi language and was used in Hindu Mythology by Lord Shiva.
29. Stars and Portraits Tattoos
Tattoo: The backside of both his legs, where the knees fold contains tattoos of the Star of David on it. The backside of his left leg contains a tattoo of a portrait of a woman on it and the backside of his right one contains a tattoo of a portrait of a man in glasses along with musical lines tattooed below him.
Meaning: The Star of David represents the religious views of the model who is Jewish. The portrait on the back of his left leg is of Frida Kahlo who is one of James’ favorite painters. There are two more tattoos of Frida on his body too. The portrait on the back of his right leg is of the British singer, Seal who James’ grew up listening to.
30. Monkey Tattoo
Tattoo: The upper side of Stephen’s left lower leg contains a tattoo of the face of a monkey on it along with leaves tattooed in the monkey’s background.
Meaning: James’ is also a lover of animals and has a pet dog. He also has two animals tattooed on his leg. This monkey and a cat as you’ll see soon.
31. Clef Tattoo
Tattoo: The front of his right leg contains three little treble clefs tattooed on it in decreasing size. There are also a few musical lines tattooed just above the clefs.
Meaning: The right leg of the model contains different tattoos of portraits of his favorite singers and follows a musical theme which is why he got these clefs tattooed on it.
32. Man Tattoo
Tattoo: The inner side of his right leg, just above his ankle contains another portrait of one of his favorite singers along with a few musical lines and symbols tattooed below him.
33. Frida Tattoo
Tattoo: The front of his left lower leg contains another tattoo of the face of Frida Kahlo. What’s peculiar about this one is that it also contains a little tattoo of the face of Frida’s husband, Diego Rivera on her forehead.
Meaning: This is the third tattoo of Frida that James has on his body as she is one of his all-time favorites.
34. Geometric Tattoo
Tattoo: The left side of the model’s body, on his hip, contains a large floral inspired geometric pattern tattooed on it.
35. Cat Tattoo
Tattoo: The side of his lower left leg, just above his ankle contains a tattoo of the face of a cat on it.
Meaning: This is the other tattoo of an animal that he has on his body, the first one being the monkey. James got these tattoos as he is a lover of animals.
Feet Tattoos
36. Eye Tattoo
Tattoo: The upper sides of both of Stephen’s feet contain a tattoo of two triangles, forming the Star of David. But unlike the rest of the stars on his body, these ones contain a tattoo of an eye inside them.
Meaning: The Star of David is the symbol used by modern Jewish people and represents the religious views of the model but here, it has been combined with the Eye of Providence, also called God’s eye which is an eye often enclosed by a triangle that signifies the eye of God watching over humanity.
