Vultures, inked buttocks and dyed EYES: Body art fans hit London

Marilyn Monroe re-imagined as a zombie and torsos decorated with tributes to Native American and other cultures were among the walking works of art that descended on the capital yesterday.

The London Tattoo Convention welcomed 150 artists to The Old Truman Brewery in the east end’s Brick Lane, where people gathered to celebrate their extensive needle work.

Along with a full-length sleeve depicting celestial scenes above an open road, full back-pieces and garish horror movie-inspired monsters.

The two-day festival kicked off yesterday as studios from across the UK and Ireland came together to showcase their art.

Traditional Sailor Jerry styles were set against intricate tribal patterns as art exhibitions as artists exhibited limited edition prints in what used to be London’s largest brewery.

Performance group The Fuel Girls entertained punters with fire and acrobatics and Gretsch G2622 Streamliner guitars were given makeovers by painter Nikole Lowe.  

The Old Truman Brewery in East London’s Brick Lane – now famed for its curry restaurants – is hosting 150 tattoo artists this weekend as enthusiasts gathered to show off their needle work in the now regenerated space. As well as traditional Sailor Jerry swallow such as the one picture on this man’s waist, cultural heritage was also honoured 

A woman displayed her full back-piece at the former brewery in the capital yesterday, as the two-day festival continues to celebrate needlework today. The Tattoo Collective also displayed Gretsch guitars with tattoo-inspired makeovers and punters were entertained by acrobatic performance group The Fuel Girls 

A woman displayed her full back-piece at the former brewery in the capital yesterday, as the two-day festival continues to celebrate needlework today. The Tattoo Collective also displayed Gretsch guitars with tattoo-inspired makeovers and punters were entertained by acrobatic performance group The Fuel Girls 

As well as full sleeves, enthusiasts flaunted full-length leg pieces at the weekender, which prides itself on displaying the work of the finest flesh artists in Britain and Ireland. Rather than the traditional designs displayed by other fans yesterday, this man opted for extensive skeletal ink work not only snaking from his upper thigh to his ankle, but on his fingers and arms too

As well as full sleeves, enthusiasts flaunted full-length leg pieces at the weekender, which prides itself on displaying the work of the finest flesh artists in Britain and Ireland. Rather than the traditional designs displayed by other fans yesterday, this man opted for extensive skeletal ink work not only snaking from his upper thigh to his ankle, but on his fingers and arms too

This Sailor Jerry design was among the more subtle pieces showcased during the festival's first day. The style was popularised by US Navy recruits and would later work its way into various subcultures, becoming a hallmark of the rockabilly resurgence in the 1980s as well as the off-shoot psychobilly scene pioneered by the London-based band The Meteors 

This Sailor Jerry design was among the more subtle pieces showcased during the festival’s first day. The style was popularised by US Navy recruits and would later work its way into various subcultures, becoming a hallmark of the rockabilly resurgence in the 1980s as well as the off-shoot psychobilly scene pioneered by the London-based band The Meteors 

Among the more bizarre works on show was this depiction of the actress Marilyn Monroe, set against a zombie-like re-imagining of the pop culture icon, with another face thrown in for good measure. Since her death in 1962, the Hollywood starlet has become a subject of fixation for subversives, most notably by Marilyn Manson, who combined her name with the world's most notorious serial killer to create his band name

Among the more bizarre works on show was this depiction of the actress Marilyn Monroe, set against a zombie-like re-imagining of the pop culture icon, with another face thrown in for good measure. Since her death in 1962, the Hollywood starlet has become a subject of fixation for subversives, most notably by Marilyn Manson, who combined her name with the world’s most notorious serial killer to create his band name

Full sleeves covering every inch of the arm were flaunted in the capital yesterday as the festival enters its final day today, welcoming more than 100 artists as well as enthusiasts to show off their skin art and enjoy exhibitions in The Old Truman Brewery in London 

Full sleeves covering every inch of the arm were flaunted in the capital yesterday as the festival enters its final day today, welcoming more than 100 artists as well as enthusiasts to show off their skin art and enjoy exhibitions in The Old Truman Brewery in London 

This tattoo fan combined her tasteful neck design with dyed eyes, darkening the whites around her iris into a deep purple while a barbed wire pattern can be seen poking out underneath her fringe 

This tattoo fan combined her tasteful neck design with dyed eyes, darkening the whites around her iris into a deep purple while a barbed wire pattern can be seen poking out underneath her fringe 

A demonic goat chewing on wheat while being straddled by a vulture was among the more unsettling chest pieces displayed during the convention's first day. The goat is often associated with Satanism and the religion's founder Anton LaVey famously had an inverted pentagram hanging in his home which incorporated a goat's head into the design 

A demonic goat chewing on wheat while being straddled by a vulture was among the more unsettling chest pieces displayed during the convention’s first day. The goat is often associated with Satanism and the religion’s founder Anton LaVey famously had an inverted pentagram hanging in his home which incorporated a goat’s head into the design 

A tattoo fan shows off a garish skull, with a lego man in place of the brain at the convention, which celebrates the country's best artists as enthusiasts gather for two days in the former brewery to watch performances and add to their already extensive skin art 

A tattoo fan shows off a garish skull, with a lego man in place of the brain at the convention, which celebrates the country’s best artists as enthusiasts gather for two days in the former brewery to watch performances and add to their already extensive skin art 

Miki Vialetto (pictured) is the man behind the weekender, organising it annually to the delight of ink work enthusiasts. True to the cause, he is pictured here showing off his full chest piece and sleeves, which incorporate a variety of traditional styles including a South American tribal design that takes up his entire stomach 

Miki Vialetto (pictured) is the man behind the weekender, organising it annually to the delight of ink work enthusiasts. True to the cause, he is pictured here showing off his full chest piece and sleeves, which incorporate a variety of traditional styles including a South American tribal design that takes up his entire stomach 

The regenerated former brewery welcomed artists and enthusiasts alike as they descended on the capital to share their designs and attend exhibitions celebrating both contemporary and historical, vintage takes on tattoo styles from cultures across the world 

The regenerated former brewery welcomed artists and enthusiasts alike as they descended on the capital to share their designs and attend exhibitions celebrating both contemporary and historical, vintage takes on tattoo styles from cultures across the world 

This back-piece draws on ancient Japanese art to depict two warriors in battle. The tribal design appears alongside two full sleeves and was one of many pieces nodding to the cultural heritage of other cultures during day one of the the convention, which will also welcome fans today 

This back-piece draws on ancient Japanese art to depict two warriors in battle. The tribal design appears alongside two full sleeves and was one of many pieces nodding to the cultural heritage of other cultures during day one of the the convention, which will also welcome fans today 

This attendee opted for an ambiguous, water-themed take as opposed to some of the more garish designs that were exhibited alongside artwork at The Old Truman Brewery in East London yesterday

This attendee opted for an ambiguous, water-themed take as opposed to some of the more garish designs that were exhibited alongside artwork at The Old Truman Brewery in East London yesterday

An ethereal celebration of the heavens over an open highway shows the Milky Way hovering over a desolate road as part of a full-sleeve design at the convention, which was attended by 150 artists, some of whom were on-hand to provide new needlework for the two-day festival's customers 

An ethereal celebration of the heavens over an open highway shows the Milky Way hovering over a desolate road as part of a full-sleeve design at the convention, which was attended by 150 artists, some of whom were on-hand to provide new needlework for the two-day festival’s customers 

A grinning Cheshire cat's eyes gleam as Alice tumbles into Wonderland in the this full leg piece paying tribute to Lewis Carroll's most famous novel, in which a young girl is thrown headlong into a world filled with strange creatures including a Mad Hatter and an eccentric, capricious Queen who demands the removal of white roses in favour of red throughout her kingdom 

A grinning Cheshire cat’s eyes gleam as Alice tumbles into Wonderland in the this full leg piece paying tribute to Lewis Carroll’s most famous novel, in which a young girl is thrown headlong into a world filled with strange creatures including a Mad Hatter and an eccentric, capricious Queen who demands the removal of white roses in favour of red throughout her kingdom 

James Dean, who became a cult hero after his starring role in Rebel Without a Cause, is remembered in this full sleeve. The young actor's anguished portrayal was followed by his untimely death after he was involved in a car crash in 1955 aged just 24 and forever immortalised as a symbol of youthful rebellion and angst 

James Dean, who became a cult hero after his starring role in Rebel Without a Cause, is remembered in this full sleeve. The young actor’s anguished portrayal was followed by his untimely death after he was involved in a car crash in 1955 aged just 24 and forever immortalised as a symbol of youthful rebellion and angst 

Horror-inspired tattoos depicted skulls alongside sinister and tortured characters were showcased at the former brewery as the festival's first day got underway this weekend 

Horror-inspired tattoos depicted skulls alongside sinister and tortured characters were showcased at the former brewery as the festival’s first day got underway this weekend 

Full sleeves were shown off by the more dedicated punters at yesterday's convention as people posed for pictures surrounded by artists available to add to the customers' already extensive artwork 

Full sleeves were shown off by the more dedicated punters at yesterday’s convention as people posed for pictures surrounded by artists available to add to the customers’ already extensive artwork 



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