Craig was born in Scotland and he has a deep connection to the ocean,
and these two aspects are part of his identity, reflected in this full
sleeve and pec tattoo by joining Polynesian and Scottish elements.
There are waves throughout the whole tattoo, with fish and water
elements (manta, turtle, hammerhead shark, shark, fish, fish hook,
waves) while an earlier Scottish knot is matched by the tartan of the
Buchanan clan, by a Celtic knot, and by a stylized thistle on the pec.
The turtle representing family is central on the shoulder with the
front flippers spanning from past to future (flax leaves with a star
above the turtle symbolize the importance of this union too).
The couple on the shell protects the two children below, within braids
for bond and union, while the Marquesan cross symbolizes harmony.
The sun and coconut leaves enclosing the turtle represent joy and
prosperity and there are rows of birds around it to symbolize voyage.
The manta on the pec symbolizes freedom, and it includes the warrior
and a tiki (the protector of the family).
Ancestors above
guard on family too.
On the arm there are three animals to represent his wife and
children, over the ahuahu o Mataora.
His wife is represented by the hammerhead shark (tenacity,
determination, support), with flax leaves in it for union.
His daughter is the shark, for speed and voyage, and to recall her
mother, with the youngest son between them two symbolized by the lizard.
The two tiki protect from all sides his family and what they learnt and achieved (the stepping stones).
The following image shows with different colors the individual
elements of the tattoo:
Kudos to Shane Gallagher Coley for inspiring the idea of including the clan's tartan within the Polynesian design.