Hey, my name is Callum, you all know me as bit_naff

This is going to be quite hard, but if I have your figurative ear and your literal eyes, here is a plead for help and the reason behind if…

Over the last couple of years, I have experienced an increasing level of anxiety around my tattoo career, so much so that it has been left in tatters.

After struggling initially, with the new found “freedom” that comes from the break down of a long term relationship, and the logistics of moving house in 2023 four times, it looked as though that year was shaping up to be one of the worst for me.

What started off as simply partying too much, as a means of not addressing my issues, (an excuse which was more than valid for some short undisclosed amount of time, and stopped being so, long before I realised it had) soon became its own issue of dependancy, avoidance and later … addiction.

2023 also saw the country flooded with the cost of living crisis, rising energy costs, which coupled with my wavering ability to find it in me to be creative, made it quite hard to function as a tattoo artist, many of us had to find other jobs to support ourselves, small studios had to close, with other factors also involved, the studio I worked from also had to close in October of that year, it was a sad day, but in no way could I imagine how much of a goodbye that was going to be.

After miserably sinking a pint one evening later that month, my old boss approached me about running a pub, one I worked in some years before, the prospect of that venture felt like I would truly be giving up on the tat life, so despite my ever decreasing funds and inability to pay the next rent, I declined the offer. It took about 5 minutes for me to realise that, actually, perhaps I need this job, for more reasons than money or a place to live (above the pub) perhaps it would ground me a little, taking on some responsibility and living off of a salary for a short time.

A year of running that pub had its own trials and tribulations, a new relationship, was only trials and tribulations, and the two combined left me in a worse position than I was when I started.

My anxiety about having paused a career that saw me become the best version of myself, increased over the quickest most destructive year of my life. 2024 took the lead in this title, and unfortunately its not possible for me to go into any major details of events in fear of yet making them worse, but… just know that as a result my mental health took a beating that has it left plugged into life support, and I myself have wavered my finger over the off switch.

Fast forward… its 2025 and im determined to not let this year take the title, however, because of the current reigning champion’s (2024) last few blows, it has seen me enter the year signed off work, in debt, homeless, in 2 forms of therapy, one for potential PTSD, and living off the measly help provided by the government…

I cannot sustain myself on less money a month, than what I was per week at the pub, I cant pay back money borrowed, I cant save for a deposit, I cant buy the things I need for tattooing… I cant eat..

I’m signed off work by my doc, and because of a few troubling dissociative episodes I plan on remaining signed off until my head feels in a better place. Its extremely hard to focus on and fix the mind when it has experienced trauma, theres no hospital bed for it to lay in, it doesn't get 3 meals a day, or regular trained professionals tending to it, no button to press when things get worse. We have to do all of the care, whilst somehow keeping the body alive.

I do however wish to use this time well, it has been far too long since Ive been at the helm of my own ship, I miss tattooing, I miss my tattoo buddies more than they know, but I need your help.

I need to raise the funds for tattoo start up costs. Which include the cost of nearly most of the equipment I need to get started again from home (when I find somewhere to live) or to be able to travel for home visits even.

I have a rough estimation on how much I think I need, this is for tattoo equipment only, bar, admittedly a small portion will go towards food to keep my engines running.

Anything you donate will be an immeasurable act of kindness (despite its monitory value) and I will thank you forever, no matter how big or small your donation, it will be enough to enter into a new and exclusive group of bit_naff followers called the hob_bits

As an incentive the hob_bits will be the first to see new flash, the first to hear of discounts and promotions. You will all receive a hand drawn personalised thank you illustration and will be the first to know of any other future promotions that could include free tattoos as well as any thing else I think up. Its not much, but its what I hope to be able to offer.

If this fund raiser is specifically unsuccessful or less fruitful than hoped for I will still attempt to keep good on my promises, but they may be delayed as such, until I can bring this career from the ashes anew another way.

I miss you all, I miss my life, im still here, I’m just dealing with a lot and I keep being told its ok to ask for help.

For anyone wishing to know more about the part I said I couldn’t post publicly, I in no way will think you are being nosey if you want the full story before donating you have every right, its just … a lot

Please if you donate, if there is some place for you to leave a reference of your instagram handle then ill know who my hob_bits are.

Link found in bio

Thanks for reading if you got this far x