The Briton who’s got Malta under his skin

Briton Mick Johnson is Malta’s unofficial brand ambassador as he proudly wears his love of the island on his sleeve – literally. Both of his large, tanned biceps are covered with tattoos of iconic Maltese items and brands, including The Times of Malta and a bottle of the much-loved drink Kinnie spanning from his right shoulder to elbow. “It all started when I was 11 and I came to Malta with my parents for the first time in 1976,” the 48-year-old told Times of Malta this week. His visits became more frequent – with at least one trip a year – and so far, he has been 41 times. Mr Johnson passed on his love for the island to his wife Emma, 40, who has made nine visits. “I got my tattoo of the Kinnie bottle in 2007 because I love the drink,” said Mr Johnson. After getting inked for the first time, he was hooked: “Tattooing is addictive – once you get one you want to keep getting more. So each time, I would save up and get another.” Mr Johnson has spent thousands of pounds on his tattoos, which were all done by a British artist who “has learnt a lot about Malta because of me”. His right arm is dedicated to the Kinnie bottle around which, swirling in the shading, are slices of oranges,...