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June 12, 2013
97972
George Bone
George Bone was born in 1945 first became interested in tattoos when as a boy he saw some tattoos on a member of his family - George was 15 when he got his first tattoo from Cash Cooper of Piccadilly Circus, London in 1960, and went onto opening his own tattooing studio in the early 1970’s George also continued to get tattooed himself with Rich Mingins and Jack Zeek doing quite a bit of George’s early tattoo work.
In fact Jack Zeek tattooed George’s chest, back, arms and hands – But it wasn’t until he met Billy Skuse at Bill’s Aldershot tattoo shop that he really started to get his body covered – with Bill becoming one of George’s big influences in the tattoo profession at the time – George who once called himself ‘Baron Von Bone’ is one of the tattooing professions top tattoo artists – and is one of the very best in regards to getting good strong colour into the skin –
His style of work borders on the macabre, and his studio in Boston Road, Hanwell, London, sports many skulls of which George calls his friends – An award-winning artist who has been featured in everything from books to magazines TV and video as well as appearing (for many years) in the Guinness Book Of Records as Britain’s most tattooed man – Married to Pat (in 1967) and sells skull related items (mirrors, ashtrays, skulls etc) of which he makes himself and items that have been used as prizes at many of the UK’s tattoo conventions over the years – George has also been tattooed by the likes of Don Ed Hardy who did his neck – But much of the work that got him into the Guinness Book was done by Rusty and the late Bill Skuse.
It is interesting to note that Bill Skuse not only helped George Bone secure his place in the Guinness Book Of Records by tattooing the majority of his body – Bill also tattooed the Guinness Book of Records'most tattooed (British) lady (his wife) Rusty Skuse - which is a first that will probably never be bettered in regard to it being hard enough to find one person who could endure getting their whole body tattooed – let alone finding two at the same sort of time and place.
George Bone would tattoo (in the early days) at 13 Cedar Grove, South Ealing, on a Sunday from 1.30 to 6 pm. Back then, he used to close his studio at 58a Boston Road on a Wednesday; he now shuts up shop Mondays and Tuesdays. George, as you have probably worked out, runs a one-man business and has done throughout his long career – although his wife Pat is usually around to keep him company – George was made an honorary member of the ‘Tokai Tattooers Reunion Of Japan Tattoo Club’ on the 12th of January 1974.
By Paul Sayce
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