Ed Sheeran and His Tattoos: The Stories Behind His Ink

When you think of Ed Sheeran, the first things that probably come to mind are his hit songs, his signature ginger hair, and his down-to-earth personality. But if you’ve ever taken a closer look at him, you’ll notice something else—he’s covered in tattoos. And not just a few here and there. We’re talking about over 60 tattoos, all across his arms and chest, telling the story of his life in ink.

Ed Sheeran isn’t just a guy who got random tattoos because it seemed cool. Every single piece of art on his body has a meaning, and in typical Ed fashion, most of them are fun, quirky, and full of personality. So, let’s dive into some of the most interesting tattoos the singer-songwriter has and what they mean to him.

The Infamous Ketchup Bottle Tattoo

Let’s start with one of the most unusual ones—his Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle tattoo. Yes, you read that right. Ed Sheeran is such a massive fan of ketchup that he decided to get a tattoo of the bottle on his arm. He has openly admitted in interviews that he puts ketchup on almost everything, and it’s pretty much his go-to condiment.

In fact, his love for Heinz was so serious that the company even released a special Ed Sheeran Heinz Ketchup bottle with his tattoo design on it. It might sound silly, but for Ed, this tattoo is a fun tribute to something that has been a part of his life forever.

Puss in Boots and Other Cartoon Tattoos

If you think ketchup bottles are the strangest tattoos he has, hold on—there’s more. Ed also has a tattoo of Puss in Boots from Shrek. Why? Because he loves the movie and thought it would be a fun addition to his collection. That’s pretty much the logic behind a lot of his ink—if he loves something, it gets a spot on his body.

He also has a teddy bear tattoo, which represents his childhood nickname. When he was younger, his family called him “Teddy,” so he decided to ink that memory onto his skin forever. Then there’s a giant penguin, inspired by Pingu, a TV show he loved as a kid.

The Meaningful Lyrics and Music Symbols

Since music is literally his entire life, it makes sense that a lot of Ed’s tattoos are related to his songs or artists he admires. He has a tattoo of Damien Rice’s lyrics because Rice was a huge inspiration to him growing up. Ed has often spoken about how watching Rice perform when he was younger made him want to become a musician. So, having his words on his body is a way of honoring that influence.

Ed also has a tattoo of a large, colorful phoenix on his arm, which he got after a difficult time in his life. The phoenix represents rising from the ashes, a reminder to himself that no matter how tough things get, he’ll always come back stronger.

Another notable one? The word “Bloodstream” tattooed on his arm. Fans of his music will know this as one of his hit songs, but for Ed, it’s even more personal. He wrote the song about a wild night he once had, and the tattoo is a way to remember both the experience and the song’s success.

A Splash of Color – Literally

One of the most noticeable things about Ed Sheeran’s tattoos is how colorful they are. A lot of celebrities go for black ink, keeping things sleek and simple, but not Ed. His tattoos are vibrant, filled with reds, blues, yellows, and greens.

Why? Because he loves colorful things. He once said that he wanted his tattoos to look like a big, messy, bright collage—almost like a kid’s sticker book. And that’s exactly what he has.

One of the most eye-catching ones is a giant orange paw print on his arm, which represents his early music career. Before he was selling out stadiums, Ed released an EP called No. 5 Collaborations Project, which had a paw print as its cover art. That tattoo is a nod to where he started.

Friends and Family Inspired Tattoos

Ed Sheeran isn’t just covered in tattoos that reflect his love for music and cartoons—he also has plenty dedicated to his friends and family. One of the sweetest ones is a tattoo that says “Red,” which represents Taylor Swift’s Red album. If you’re wondering why he has that, it’s because he was a big part of that album. He co-wrote and sang on the song Everything Has Changed, and Taylor even handpicked him to open for her on tour.

Speaking of Taylor Swift, she actually gave Ed one of his tattoos. Well, sort of. He and Taylor were hanging out with her tattoo artist one day, and Taylor took the tattoo gun and wrote the word “Galway” on Ed’s arm. Then the artist inked over it, making it permanent.

Another meaningful tattoo is the one that represents his wife, Cherry Seaborn. He has a tattoo of their wedding date, a tribute to the love of his life. He also has a heart tattoo, which many believe is linked to his relationship with Cherry.

A Tattoo for Every Tour

Ed also has a tradition—he gets a tattoo for every major tour he goes on. If you ever see him perform with his sleeves rolled up, you’ll notice small symbols here and there that represent each of his albums and world tours.

For example, he has a “Divide” symbol from his ÷ (Divide) album and a “Multiply” symbol for x (Multiply). These tattoos serve as a reminder of how far he’s come in his career and the different phases of his life.

No Regrets, Just Ink

With so many tattoos, you’d think Ed might have at least one that he regrets. But nope! He’s said in multiple interviews that he loves every single one, even the ones that might seem a little odd to others.

His tattoos tell his story, from childhood memories to career milestones, personal struggles, and even inside jokes. They might not all make sense to the rest of the world, but for Ed, each one is a special part of his journey.

So, the next time you see Ed Sheeran performing on stage, take a look at his tattoos. They’re not just ink on his skin—they’re pieces of his life, written in colorful, quirky, and deeply personal artwork.