Sydney tattoo enthusiasts bare their flesh for free ink from Scott Campbell

This US provocateur and tattooist to the stars has inked everyone from murderous bikies, to Jennifer Aniston. But would you let him use you as a canvas?

Scott Campbell, US provocateur tattooist to the stars at his ‘Whole Glory’ installation in Sydney. Campbell’s free blind-tattooing is a part of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, held at the Carriageworks in Eveleigh. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Would you let one of Hollywood’s most sought-after tattooists use your limb as a canvas?

Dozens of Sydney tattoo enthusiasts did just that on Sunday, lining up at Carriageworks to bare their flesh for Scott Campbell, the US provocateur and celebrity tattooist, who counts “murderous bikers who kill people for living and Jennifer Aniston,” among his clients.

The New York-based artist has also inked the likes of Howard Stern, Sting, Robert Downey Jr., Courtney Love, Orlando Bloom, and Vera Wang. But he recalls Johnny Depp and Marc Jacobs with particular fondness.

“Johnny is the sweetest, most sensitive, kind human in the world,” Campbell told Confidential.

“I think the last time I tattooed him we did this lightning bolt on his hand that was an homage to Patti Smith. He and Patti were really good friends and her one tattoo is of a lightning bolt on her knee. He got that in camaraderie with her.”

Scott Campbell counts celebrities such as Marc Jacobs, Jennifer Aniston, and Vera Wang among his clientele. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Meanwhile, Marc Jacobs’ last request, in a series of about 30 tattoos, was for the red M&M character.

“Because his name also starts with M,” Campbell said.

Stephanie Callanan, 36, receiving her very first tattoo from Scott Campbell at the Whole Glory installation at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Marc is amazing. It’s no coincidence that he has the impact he has on the creative world. When he schedules an appointment, the one thing I can count on is Marc Jacobs will always deliver the unexpected. You don’t realise how rare that is in the world.”

Campbell says tattooing A-list clients is no different than tattooing anybody else: “Whatever they’re going through that’s motivating them to get tattooed is not emotionally different. For me, it’s a simple human interaction. I often don’t realise the world is watching until I see pictures in People magazine.”

Sydney woman Stephanie Callanan, from the Northern Beaches, was gifted her very first tattoo — an artwork depicting ‘Beauty in the eye of the beholder’. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Callanan “loves” her tattoo. “I knew that it would be good,” she said. “The two things that appealed to me are his fame, and not having to choose.” Picture: Jonathan Ng

Campbell gave his work away for free this weekend at The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, with only one catch. His tattoos were done without meeting, looking, or talking to his Australian clients at all.

“When you do tattoos, your canvas has an opinion on what you do. When you do paintings, you don’t have to ask the paper permission to draw on it first,” Campbell said.

“I had always fantasised about tattooing with the same level of freedom and inspiration that I would paint on a canvas.”