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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Mahima Kaur & John Bett

'I get insulted after spending £35k covering body in tattoos - but I'm actually mature'

A tattoo-loving man says he gets insulted after spending £35,000 to cover his skin with ink - but he insists he's just "mature".

Security guard Alberto Rodriguez Varela Grandal has had an interest in tattoos since he was a teenager and he's had quite a few over the years.

The 32-year-old, who also moonlights as a tattoo practitioner, had his first inking when he turned 22 - and since then he's spent thousands pursuing his dream.

But the tattoo fan from Tenerife, Spain, was unable to stick to any one style and kept experimenting until all his skin was covered, so now he's settled on a 'blackout' style where his whole skin is covered in dark ink.

Alberto couldn't decide what style he wanted, so he ended up going with a 'blackout' design (mediadrumimages/@berto_rvg)
He definitely looks unique (mediadrumimages/@berto_rvg)

What do you think about tattoos? Let us know in the comments...

Alberto said: "Many people see me and think I'm crazy, but I'm a much more mature and rational person in every way since getting my tattoos.

"I feel like the same person before and after the process. Having these tattoos is a good filter at the end of the day to find out which people are open-minded and tolerant."

Alberto receives mixed comments on his Instagram and in real life, but he still loves his tattoos.

At one stage, he had no tattoos (mediadrumimages/@berto_rvg)
Now his image has changed quite a bit (mediadrumimages/@berto_rvg)

"I have many people who love what I do and many others who insult behind a screen," he said.

"But it's nothing new - people hate what they don't understand.

"It's just that I have been educated in a different way and I respect the lives of others.

"In fact, I believe I have calmed down more than ever because of my tattoos.

He started off with just one tattoo (mediadrumimages/@berto_rvg)
And things escalated from there (mediadrumimages/@berto_rvg)

When Alberto started tattooing his body, he had little idea that he would progress into blackout tattooing, which is considered to be an extreme form of tattooing.

"I got my first tattoo at the age of 22 just for the aesthetics," said Alberto.

"When I got a stable job I started getting pieces of tattoos on my body.

"But I never had the idea of doing my whole body until I advanced with age.

Alberto has spent £35,000, but he's not done yet (mediadrumimages/@berto_rvg)
Alberto's partner, Amber, is also a tattoo fan (mediadrumimages/@berto_rvg)

"It was then that I started looking for a style that was more aligned with me and came across blackout tattoos.

"I understand that blackout is a transgressive style and most people don't like it.

"I have actually always been interested in art since I was little and at the age of 19 I started my journey in the world of tattooing by reading and knowing more.

Alberto is not sure if he is done with tattoos yet, and his partner 33-year-old Amber is also an avid tattoo lover so they egg each other on.

"I have spent more than £35K on my tattoos," he said.

"I've tattooed my whole body twice and I'm going through the third revision."I'm in the process of reviewing my entire body for the third time to make it to my liking.

"My partner Amber also loves tattoos so we get along very well and form a great couple."

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