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Roots of the World Tree: A journey through heritage.
Project type
Viking Tattoo London, Nordic, Viking, Celtic, Blackwork, illustration
Date
August 2026
Location
Monstera Ink Studio, Romford Essex, UK
Viking Tattoo London recently had the honour of creating this intricate, multi-cultural tattoo for a client at Monstera Ink Studio in Romford, Essex . This piece was a fantastic exercise in collaboration, blending deep ancestral roots from Scandinavia and Japan with a touch of Celtic symbolism.
The foundation of the design is the Nordic Yggdrasil, the Great World Tree. We wove the branches upward to cradle a Celtic Claddagh ring, representing love, loyalty, and friendship—a nod to the client's British upbringing.
Descending into the massive roots of the World Tree, we integrated his Japanese heritage. Hidden among the intricate root structure is a Shinto shrine, sitting just above a bold, red Nagoya City flag symbol. Flanking this central journey are the twin wolves, loyal guardians of the tree.
Bringing together these distinct worlds into one cohesive black and grey piece with pops of striking red was an amazing experience. It’s always incredibly rewarding to work with clients to honour their unique history and see their ideas come to life in a way they are truly happy with.