Heres some of my collection of tattoos by Terry Wrigley ,these photos were taken in my shop on older clients who have a range of work from terrys career, i got my 1st tattoo from Terry in the mid 90’s heres some of his classics

Back in Glasgow in 1965, when Bert Vallar finally closed his shop there were no other professional tattoo artists working in the city.

However, two tattoo artists who had been working in the seaside resort of Blackpool, England heard the news that Bert Vallar had closed down his parlour and decided that they would move up north to Glasgow for a month and try out the city.

Jimmy Gould and Terry Wrigley found a shop at 793 Gallowgate (pictured on the left, the shop is to the right of the General Wolfe Pub) and began tattooing.

After a month Jimmy decided that Glasgow was not for him and he headed back to Blackpool, where he still operates a tattoo studio today. Terry however, stayed on in the city and carried on where Bert Vallar had left off. According to Terry’s friend Lionel Titchoner, tattooist and founder of the Tattoo International Magazine, Terry received a visit from Bert Vallar shortly after his arrival in Glasgow with an offer to sell him his equipment. It is not known if Terry purchased anything from Bert or if they had any further contact through the years but Terry went on to established himself in the city and worked in his studio in Glasgow’s Gallowgate for 20 years before moving to Chisholm Street, Trongate, Glasgow.

No story on tattooing in Scotland would be complete without a couple of further paragraphs on Terry Wrigley. A true character and ambassador for Scottish tattooing. A legend throughout the tattooing world.

Although born in Mossley, England in 1937 he made Glasgow his home when he moved to the city in 1965. He had previously tattooed in Ashton, Southend and Blackpool where he worked alongside a Black tattoo artist named Prince Eugene (who was a great admirer of Prince Vallar) but eventually settled in Glasgow for over 30 years, tattooing thousands of men and women in his Gallowgate and Trongate studios. He passed the trade onto his two sons and they continue a tradition in the city that was started by Prince Vallar all those years ago – a tattooing dynasty.

Terry had held the rank as President of the National Tattoo Association and was the founder of many tattoo associations, clubs and newsletters. He was a correspondent and friend to many in the tattooing world.

Although he died in 1999 his name is still revered wherever tattooist or enthusiasts gather. He is survived by his two sons Stuart and Stephen Wrigley who are both excellent tattoo artists and who both operate tattoo studios in Glasgow.

(text on terry Taken from the Prince Vallar Site documenting scotlands tattoo history,author Les Quinn