From cracked skulls topped with
curling horns to brightly coloured flowers, the London Tattoo Convention
is always guaranteed to show off the weird and wonderful.
And
this year was no different, as everything from classic skulls and
devils, to eye-popping 3D designs, body-art enthusiasts proudly showed
off their ink.
The event, held at Tobacco Dock until Monday, gives people the chance to even top up their tats and learn about new patterns.
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Ouch! The International Tattoo Convention has
some impressive and eye-watering displays of body-art - including this
intricate horn and skull design which curves around the nippes
Colourful: This woman shows off a vibrant tattoo
on her chest featuring a rose and horseshoe, with wings that flutter
across the colourbone
Bringing sexy back? These two have chosen
incredibly intricate designs inspired by the far East etched into their
backs in vivid colours - a far cry from the usual skull and crossbones
that many opt for
Bugz Bonnie shows off her elaborate ink, which
includes an elaborate design of spiderwebs, roses, and a face that
adorns her chest
Nathan Shrive's tattoo, which goes across his
windpipe, must have hurt; but that didn't stop him getting motivational
messages, roses, stars and spiderwebs decorated on himself
But mostly, it gave people a chance to
flash their inked flesh - and prove just how tough they were to endure
hours of painful needlework to get the designs.
Everything
from Oriental designs of blue dragons curling around limbs, to more
delicate cherry-blossom tree patterns, was on display.
'This
is like the Premier League of tattoo artists from all over the world
who come here to show their work,' organiser Marcus Beriman said.
Around 300 artists will use 26 stalls
at the fair to show off their work while offering to add more designs to
anyone brave enough to go under the hammering needle.
And many took advantage of the flood of artists to top up their tats and
And,
as the attendees at this year's even show, the clientele has stretched
far beyond sailors, soldiers and gangsters who were the mainstay of
body-art for hundreds of years.
Stay still! Over 300 artists on 25 stalls are
attending the 9th annual event in London - and many were called upon to
top up the tattoos of visitors
From classic black and white patterns to more modern and colorful designs, there was something for everyone
The contrast between the harsh black and white and the softer colour show just how variable tattoos can be
Grin and bear it: From the look on his face this man may not be enjoying getting this elaborate new design put on
Thanks in part to celebrity endorsement, tattooing is now popular with everyone from housewives to pensioners.
Indeed
the man responsible for putting a huge rose pattern on Cheryl Cole's
bottom and back, Nikko Hurtado, will be at the event and is sure to be
in high demand.
It has
encouraged people to offer up the most sensitive parts of their body -
from the throats, to their feet, to their private parts, so that they
too can have their body permanently painted.
Many
of those who attended the convention proudly showed how intricate art -
which would take hours to complete - had been needled into the skin
between their legs, on their ears and everywhere in between.
But Miki Vialetto, editor of Tattoo Life, thinks it's a shame that body art is becoming popular.
Wild at heart! These two girls show how they
have had a second skin drawn on in these colourful patterns - both with
skulls inked on between their breasts
Not an inch left! Just a few spaces remain on Iestyn Flye's face and scalp as every bit of his face has been tattooed
Speaking to The Times, he said: 'I
thought it was something magical. A lot of people now get a tattoo like
they would buy a new pair of shoes.'
The revelation this week that tattoo ink could cause cancer will also come as a shock to people at the convention.
Toxic ink used for tattoos could seep into the body and increase the risk of cancer, experts have warned.
Nanoparticles
couldenter via the bloodstream and settle in major organs - such as
kidneys - causing them to stop functioning normally.
As
many as five percent of tattoo studios are believed to use ink that
contains carcinogenic compounds - such as colbalt and mercury.
A blue leopard adorns the head of this doe-eyed
woman, while another has dedicated her back to Oriental design, with a
huge mythical dragon curling around her spine
Hands off to you: Jimmy Q's shows off his inked hands inside the London tattoo convention
Share the love: This kissing couple are clearly big fans of tattoos and are also sporting flesh tunnels in their ears
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