Sunderland tattoo artist will work until midnight to complete last design before Lockdown 2

A Sunderland tattoo artist is set to work until midnight on Wednesday, November 4 before the second national lockdown comes into force.
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Mel Blyth, owner of Elixir Tattoos on Frederick Street, will work right up until the last minute before the Government’s latest Covid restrictions kick in from Thursday, November 5.

During her final appointment before the four-week lockdown, Mel plans to finish a tattoo of the Virgin Mary that will form part of a religious-themed sleeve on client Mick Taggart’s arm.

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Mel – who reopened her studio at midnight on Monday, July 13 after the first lockdown was lifted – says the midnight closure will be a fitting way of marking the latest Covid lockdown.

Elixir Tattoo owner artist Mel Blyth is set to close at midnight when the second national lockdown comes into force.Elixir Tattoo owner artist Mel Blyth is set to close at midnight when the second national lockdown comes into force.
Elixir Tattoo owner artist Mel Blyth is set to close at midnight when the second national lockdown comes into force.

The 52-year-old said: “I am going to work until the last minute. The client wants his sleeve finished off so I am going to see what I can do.

"I am going to try and set myself that challenge.”

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Mel, who has had the studio for 17 years, took inspiration for her midnight reopening in July from her hairdresser cousin Debra Anne Adamson, who reopened Sunderland salon, Cloud 9, at midnight on Super Saturday (July 4) for her first appointment since March.

The religious sleeve by Mel Blyth already features an illustration of The Last Supper.The religious sleeve by Mel Blyth already features an illustration of The Last Supper.
The religious sleeve by Mel Blyth already features an illustration of The Last Supper.

This time, she was inspired to close at midnight by other businesses across Wearside who are working around the clock in an effort to try and prepare for a month’s loss of trade.

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But with the uncertainty around the possibility of the lockdown being extended – should coronavirus cases not fall – Mel is now facing the prospect of needing to take on another job to survive during lockdown.

She added: “As a business owner you are just starting to claw things back [after the first lockdown] so you’re thinking ‘not again.’ It is just hard but everybody is in the same boat.

"If everything is going to be closed for longer than a month then I have no other option [to get another job] – everything else still needs to be paid and the money has got to come from somewhere.

Mel Blyth will be finishing the relgious sleeve on Mick Taggart's arm.Mel Blyth will be finishing the relgious sleeve on Mick Taggart's arm.
Mel Blyth will be finishing the relgious sleeve on Mick Taggart's arm.

"I feel for everybody who is self employed or in a normal job and has to do this."

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