Check Out Mark Worst’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Worst.

Hi Mark, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey as an artist began in Graffiti culture. My teenage years were spent refining lettering styles and learning how to spray paint among a small group of rebellious and competitive kids from my hometown, Glasgow, Scotland.

Somewhere along the way I realized I was getting pretty good at graffiti and might as well get good in other areas of art, so I focussed on portraiture and started incorporating characters into my graffiti pieces and painting murals for local businesses.

A local tattooer and senior graffiti artist recognized my potential and offered me a tattoo apprenticeship and for many years I was juggling my slow entrance into the tattoo industry alongside painting large scale murals around the UK.

Over time tattooing became more of a central focus for me and in 2023 I got the opportunity to come out to Los Angeles to work on the O1 Artist’s Visa and I’ve been refining my practice out here since.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I had no real access to art education in any form growing up, but Graffiti itself exists in defiance of obstacles and It instilled in me stubborn and determined attitude towards the pursuit of my craft. Practicing tags was like doing reps, you only get good through repetition so I applied that attitude to my art education and it’s seen me through. I definitely lean more on the hard work side of the talent vs. hard work debate.

The biggest challenge was packing up my life and taking a risk to come and work in the USA, but the competitive nature of tattooing in LA has pushed me to truly lean in on drawing and tattooing the subjects I love the most and I’ve managed to find the right people to get behind my work.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a tattoo & mural artist from Glasgow, Scotland. In my hometown I’m known for painting large scale murals around the city and in Los Angeles I’m known for freehanding dark fantasy & game inspired tattoos.

I’d say what sets me apart from most tattooers is my focus on freehand sketching as a means of transferring the tattoo design onto the body rather than using stencils. This requires a lot of confidence as an artist and trust from the client, But it’s the best way to catch a sense of flow with the body and it allows for spontaneous inspiration and evolution in the design because I’m so in the moment and reacting to the body as the design evolves.

What’s next?
My plans are to continue traveling around the USA and the world pushing my tattoo work to its full potential. I have several Tattoo conventions and guest spots planned around the USA and UK this summer which I’m incredibly excited about and I’ve been working on developing my painting style on canvas – I hope to host a solo exhibition showcasing the art I’ve created in between tattoo sessions.

Something that has taken a back seat in recent years has been my mural painting practice, but I’m hoping to return to this medium and paint some large scale murals too.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @worst.ttt @markworst

Image Credits
Junn Bollman