Ed Sheeran show off his 60 elaborate tattoos, plans to get 30 more on his back (Photos)

Beneath the chunky-knit jumpers and hooded jumpers, Ed Sheeran is hiding a rather astonishing secret, more than 60 multi-coloured tattoos.

The 25-year-old Suffolk-born singer’s parents are likely to be less than thrilled with his new body art, the Grammy-winner could not be happier, and is planning on having another 30 or so on his back.

He has spent a painstaking, quite literally 40 hours in the tattooist’s chair over the past 12 months.

Celebrity tattoo artist Kevin Paul, who has also inked Rihanna and Harry Styles, was the man behind the elaborate etchings, and the pair spent their evenings getting Sheeran’s body covered during the performer’s recent sabbatical.

Among the drawings are a pair of Rolling Stones lips in a tribute to his icon, Sir Mick Jagger, a dinosaur in a nod to his favourite childhood cartoon, and the crest of his old junior school.