An ‘extraordinarily passionate’ tattoo artist who taught Gavin and Stacey creator Ruth Jones the best way to ink and labored with celeb purchasers has been discovered useless.
Lee Clements taught Jones, who performs larger-than-life Nessa on the hit BBC present, the best way to use tattoo tools for the Christmas particular.
Described by his household as “massively obsessed with tattooing”, his different superstar purchasers included All Blacks rugby star Jonah Lomu and champion boxer Lee Selby.
However 42-year-old Lee struggled with psychological well being issues and his household which his household mentioned he stored hidden from “most individuals”.
The dad-of-three is believed to have taken his personal life.
Brother Craig Clements mentioned: “Lee suffered along with his psychological well being all by his maturity, however stored it hidden from most individuals.
“He was a particularly passionate particular person, a really loving son, devoted father, nice brother and intensely nice buddy to many individuals everywhere in the world.
“He was massively obsessed with tattooing which was his profession for nicely over 15 years.”
Lee was not too long ago employed as an advisor for the Gavin and Stacey Christmas comeback and offered tools used within the present.
The episode confirmed Nessa drawing a dodgy Che Guevera tattoo on a buyer utilizing Lee’s pen.
Talking earlier than the present was proven, Mr Clements mentioned: “We received requested to supply some tools and arrange a small tattoo studio space for them as a result of Nessa was going to be doing a little tattooing within the Christmas Particular.
“I arrange a studio for Nessa and ran her by roughly the best way to use the machine.
“It was actually fascinating to work on one thing like that. It was fascinating for me to see all of it occur.
“The one factor that struck me was the quantity of labor and the quantity of employees that go into such a small scene.”
Lee had been working with the Welsh Authorities as a number one knowledgeable on hygiene and creating secure boundaries between the tattooist and the consumer – however ‘Nessa’ was having none of it.
“She refused to put on gloves which I particularly wished her to do,” he mentioned on the time.
“However she mentioned Nessa does what she desires.
“We have been making an attempt to maintain it as tight and hygienic as doable so it’s not our fault!
“We have been simply behind the scenes in the event that they wanted something. It was actually good enjoyable.”
Lee’s funeral will happen on Wednesday, January 22.
- The household has requested that donations to psychological well being charity Thoughts be made in reminiscence of Lee through the JustGiving page