Tattoo artist shares talent at hospital

A post of Benjamin Lloyd's indian ink freestyle painting on 5-year-old Jin Whitehead went viral on social media. Photo / Supplied

A tattoo artist whose work on children became an internet sensation has kept his promise and taken his talents to children in hospital.

A post of Benjamin Lloyd's indian ink freestyle painting on 5-year-old Jin Whitehead went viral on social media, and now he has shared his artistic talent with kids at Tauranga Hospital.

In his original post he promised to visit hospital children if he got 50 likes.

He quickly surpassed that, amassing 275,000 likes and more than 143,000 shares.

Mr Lloyd posted on his Facebook page this evening saying thanks to all those who had supported his endeavours.

"Thank you to the thousands of people backing me to tattoo these kids.

"I can't explain the feeling it gives me to put a smile on their faces."

The post attracted more than 14,000 reactions in just over an hour, and had been shared almost 1000 times.

He has been painting the children of friends and family for years using non-toxic indian ink that washed off in the shower.

"The kids are so amazed. As soon as they get the tattoo it boosts their confidence."