Ed Sheeran breaks down a lifetime of tattoos for GQ. From the singer’s most meaningful to his matching ‘Pingu’ tattoo with Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran tells the tales of his ink (and why each new tattoo is more painful than the last).

Ed Sheeran is known not only for his chart-topping hits but also for his extensive collection of tattoos, many of which hold deep personal meaning. In a recent interview, Ed shared the stories behind his ink, offering fans a glimpse into the significance of each tattoo and how they connect to his life, his music, and the people who have shaped his journey.

The journey began with Ed’s first tattoo, a simple paw print. He was just 18 years old when he decided to get it, drawn to the idea of having a permanent mark to represent something meaningful. The tattoo was done in Christina Perri’s brother’s tattoo shop, a place where Ed had no idea that, years later, he would collaborate musically with Christina herself. “I had drawn this paw print on me for about three or four years every day with a permanent marker,” Ed recalls. “I thought, ‘That’s gonna be my one tattoo and I’ll get no more.’ Obviously, that didn’t last.”

As Ed’s career progressed, so did his collection of tattoos, each marking significant moments in his life. One such tattoo is a trio of boxing gloves on his arm, a tribute to his grandfather who had been a boxer. The tattoo symbolizes a pivotal moment in Ed’s career, playing Madison Square Garden in New York, a place he associates with both his grandfather’s legacy and his own accomplishments. “If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere in the world,” his father told him, and playing three nights at Madison Square Garden was a dream come true for Ed.

Another key tattoo represents a chapter in his musical career—his involvement with Taylor Swift. Ed has a tattoo of a small number “13” on his arm, which he got after collaborating with Taylor on her album *Red*. This tattoo commemorates not only their musical partnership but also the time he spent living in America. “It was a year of my life living in America,” Ed explains, reflecting on the significance of that period.

Among the tattoos that hold the most personal significance for Ed are those related to his family. He has his children’s footprints tattooed on his back, a permanent reminder of their births. His favorite tattoo, however, is one that his daughter drew herself—a small bunny rabbit. “It’s always covered up, no one else sees it, but it’s something I look at every day,” he says, cherishing the intimate connection it represents.

Ed’s tattoos also tell the story of his relationships with friends he’s lost. He has a tattoo of the number “1” on his finger, dedicated to his friend Michael, who passed away. Similarly, he has the initials “SB.TV” for his friend Jamal, a reminder of their impact on his career. These tattoos are placed on his guitar-playing hand so they’re always with him during performances.

Tattoos have also served as a way for Ed to celebrate the places he’s traveled. He’s got a Heinz ketchup bottle from Pittsburgh, a koala from Australia, and a tribute to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” from Philadelphia. He even got a tattoo of the character Pingu, which was a matching tattoo with Harry Styles. “It wasn’t so much matching,” Ed laughs, “I got the little Pingu penguin, and he got Pingu written, but I think he’s covered it with an anchor, which looks a bit cooler.”

In a lighter moment, Ed shares a funny story about a tattoo he got while filming the music video for “Galway Girl.” He and actress Saoirse Ronan had a bit of fun with a tattoo joke. “It’d be funny if we misspelled it Galway Grill,” Ed recalls. “I think I said in an interview that she’d spelled it wrong, and then that went around that she’d spelled it wrong, but we had planned it.”

Ed’s tattoos have also marked some of his greatest achievements. One of the most significant tattoos for him is the series of symbols on his wrist—plus, multiply, divide, and subtract. These symbols represent the plan he had for his career and his albums. “That was the plan of the albums that I was gonna do,” Ed explains. “Plus, Multiply, Divide, and Subtract.” The symbol “Equals” was added later, and Ed plans to start a new series of tattoos next year to continue the theme.

One of his most painful tattoos was a large piece of the Sagrada Familia, a famous basilica in Barcelona. The tattoo took eight hours, and Ed describes it as one of the grimmest experiences he’s had. “They use 20 needles, and it’s just scraping in,” he recalls. “It was grim.” Despite the pain, Ed continues to add to his collection, acknowledging that the more tattoos you get, the more your body protests. “The more you get, the more it’s saying, ‘Please stop doing this.’”

Throughout it all, Ed Sheeran’s tattoos have served as a way for him to mark significant events, celebrate friendships, and honor the people who have shaped his life. Whether it’s a small bunny drawn by his daughter or a tribute to a friend who’s passed, each tattoo tells a story that goes far beyond just ink on skin.