Is Wales ditching the dragon? The new tattoos being worn with pride

Tattoos symbolising Welsh pride have traditionally been based on designs of dragons, feathers, daffodils, or historical figure Owain Glyndŵr.

But a new trend is emerging, with images of women in Welsh costume increasingly being inked on the arms and legs of young people.

Tattoo artists have given them a modern makeover - creating designs in the style of the Bratz fashion dolls, American pin-up girls, and even Nessa from Gavin and Stacey wearing the traditional dress.

Swansea-based tattooist Sadie Evans, 31, believes symbols that were popular 20 to 30 years ago are now seen as outdated and younger people want a "modern, fun spin" on classic imagery.

She works at Medusa's Tattoos & Piercings in the city, and their busiest period last year was St David's Day (1 March) when they held a Welsh-inspired flash day.

"People queued over five hours to get tattooed, it was insane," she said.

"There were four of us and we were tattooing from 9am until midnight."

Sadie says she wants to inspire people to express their patriotism in a way that represents them.

"I think the reason people get them is to show Welsh pride and a strong sense of identity, but I think traditional Welsh tattoos are seen as quite masculine, like Nessa's dragon on the arm [in Gavin and Stacey]," she added.

"The designs that I do are appealing to a different demographic, because they're younger and it's like a modern, fun spin on classic Welsh imagery."

While Welsh tattoos have always been a staple, there has been an increase in interest in recent years, according to Chris Collins from the Frontier Tattoo Parlour in Cardiff.

"Interestingly, the subject matter is evolving," he said.

"We're moving away from the traditional dragons and three feathers motifs toward more folk-inspired imagery like the Welsh Lady, the Mari Lwyd, and daffodils - or often a creative combination of all three.

"It's primarily about celebrating heritage."

Chris says his clients are a diverse group, with a fairly even split across men, women, and non-binary clients.

Nostalgia was the main reason Amy Watson decided to get a tattoo depicting a woman in traditional dress.

The 30-year-old from Cardiff remembers dressing up in the outfit on St David's Day in school, while there was also "twin envy" after her sister got a similar design.

"I saw [the tattoos] had a bit of a moment and I was like 'oh my God, I remember just going to school wearing that really ugly hat and shawl'... that was one of the best times," she said.

"And also my twin sister had one and I was just really envious so I was like, I must get one now so we can match a little bit, but yeah, it was for nostalgia purposes really and I just think they're really cool and lush and a really nice way to represent Wales."

The traditional Welsh costume features a tall black hat (Het Gymreig), worn with a woollen bedgown, patterned shawl, and a red petticoat.

According to National Museum Wales, its popularity increased in the 19th Century, driven by concerns traditional Welsh culture was under threat.

Encouraged in part by Augusta Hall, known as Lady Llanover, the costume was promoted at eisteddfodau and within Welsh households as a way of strengthening national cohesion and encouraging the use of the Welsh language.

By the late 1840s, the Welsh hat had become an icon of Wales, appearing in cartoons, tourism marketing and on souvenirs and postcards as shorthand for the nation itself.

The outfit endures to this day, with girls from across the country wearing it to school on St David's Day each year, as part of celebrations for the nation's patron saint.

Tattoo artist Jessica Tucker, 30, has used the American pin-up style in her creations at Cardiff's Physical Graffiti.

This type of art grew in popularity during World War Two when soldiers began commissioning images of feminine figures as symbols of luck and reminders of home, which then became part of US culture, appearing in newspapers and magazines.

After posting her work on TikTok and Instagram, Jessica received a flurry of bookings from people wanting her designs of pin-up girls wearing traditional Welsh costume.

"A lot of [the designs] I do actually go back to the 1800s, but a lot of the time I do just look at Welsh lady costumes as we would know them today, especially when we were younger and dressing up as them for St David's," she said.

"I also used to dress as a Welsh lady when I was younger… my nan made me a little shawl so I always remember it and it was really, really lovely."

Tattooing has long been used around the world to communicate cultural identity, status or belonging.

In Wales, researchers say these new designs offer a window into how national pride is being reinterpreted by younger generations.

Dr Mari Williams, a lecturer in Welsh History at Bangor University, has explored how contemporary tattoos, including so-called Welsh pin-up girl designs, reflect modern interpretations of the past.

She said tattoos can be "a really personal way of showing your devotion to your country", with different designs offering different expressions of Welsh identity.

While figures such as Owain Glyndŵr may represent a more traditionally masculine symbol of Welsh pride, she said the Welsh pin-up girl offers a more feminine alternative.

Dr Williams added that although the exact origins of the Welsh national costume are debated, it was "in some ways a deliberate invention to try to give Wales a sense of national identity and cohesion".

Through these tattoos, that spirit remains true to this day.