Stephen James’ tattoos include a red lotus at his throat, portraits across both arms, patterned torso work and a large skull on his back. The British model and former footballer has described different themes for his sleeves: British references on the right arm and Salvador Dali-inspired work on the left. His first tattoo was a Star of David on his right elbow, done in Prague.

The red lotus and patterned neck tattoos

A red lotus spreads across the front of James’ throat. Pale edges and warmer shading near the middle separate the petals, which are outlined in black. Repeated shapes and curved lines cover the sides of his neck, rising toward the hairline and meeting the ornamental work on his upper chest.

The broad petals are easy to see first; the side patterns take longer to pick out. James hasn’t given a clear personal explanation for the lotus in the interviews referenced here, so its color and placement are the surest details to describe.

The British portraits and Dali arm tattoos

James has said his right arm carries British references, while the left draws on Salvador Dali. In a Vogue interview, he named musicians Morrissey, Robert Smith, Siouxsie Sioux and Ian Dury, describing them as “the music I listened to growing up.” Big Ben appears among the right-arm portraits as another British subject.

The left sleeve has a looser, surreal look, though that doesn’t make each image a specific Dali painting. Both arms use portrait shading, but their subjects give them different themes. Lighter areas and gaps keep the faces and shapes apart as the sleeves wrap around his arms.

The ornamental chest and stomach tattoos

James’ torso uses ornament rather than the portraits and landmarks on his arms. Curves, loops and repeated borders spread across his chest. Below them, a large face-like design on his stomach has an exaggerated mouth, exposed teeth and a long tongue reaching toward the waist.

Dark fills and open skin alternate around the shapes. The mouth is the clearest feature, while the exact identity or meaning of the torso image isn’t established in the interviews referenced here. It’s safer to describe the visible design than name a figure without evidence.

The head patterns, hand portrait and finger symbols

The shaved sides of James’ head reveal repeating patterns above and behind his ear. Some shapes are pointed, others rounded; they continue into the neck work. The longer hair on top leaves a clear border around the shaved section.

A portrait covers the back of his left hand. Smaller marks sit on the fingers, including a six-pointed star, individual letters and curling symbols. The hand brings a picture and fine linework into a smaller space, but there isn’t a confirmed meaning for every mark.

The oversized skull back tattoo

A large skull fills James’ back. Deep black eye sockets and a dark nose cavity sit above a wide row of outlined teeth. Curved flourishes frame the brow, with a decorative line running down the forehead and nose. Above the skull, a pointed geometric section spans his upper back; its straight divisions contrast with the rounder features below.

For another approach to skeletal imagery, Rick Genest’s tattoos carry the subject across the face and body, while James keeps the large skull on his back. To see James during a tattoo session, watch the video from his own channel below.