EDINBURGH is on the map for human body art after around 3000 enthusiasts attended the international Scottish Tattoo Convention.
The third annual event in the capital, better known for the military tattoo, attracted people from as far away as Australia and America, making it the most successful such event ever in Scotland.
A total of 150 tattoo artists, including some from Australia and the United States, came together for the event at the Corn Exchange, which is the only tattoo convention north of the Border.
Organiser James Aitken, who works at tattoo parlour Red, Hot and Blue in the city and at Main Street Tattoo, Wishaw, said: "Tattooing has increased for the last 25 years as it has become more mainstream."
Mr Aitken added: "We've had visitors up from England, people from France and Italy and a whole family from Sweden. The highlight of the weekend for me has been the sheer number of people getting tattooed.
"Everyone has been working, not just the 'stars'. There are 150 artists and no two people's work looks the same. No two skulls are the same."
Some 60 shops in the Edinburgh district now employ around three people each, compared to 10 artists in total operating in the area 15 years ago – a trend fuelled in part by the fashion for celebrities such as footballers and pop stars to sport tattoos. Angelina Jolie, David Beckham and Johnny Depp have all had tattoos.
A survey of 1000 British men and women by the website Ask Jeeves in 2010 found that about one-fifth of British adults have had a permanent tattoo.
Tattooing is equally popular among women as men and, although "inking" is common among people aged 16-44, men and women of all ages request tattoos. Mr Aitken reported that the convention had visitors who were in their 60s and 70s.
Some people live to rue the day they had a tattoo, however. The Ask Jeeves poll found 23% of people regretted having one.
Mr Aitken said some people offered tattoo removal alongside tattooing and hairdressing, but said: "I would go to someone who does it as their sole job."
Entertainment included a competition to find the first ever Mr and Mrs Tattoo Scotland, a one-man band, burlesque performers and a razor blade swallower.
Tattooing has long been associated with such novel types of act. Mr Aitken added: "Travelling fairs in the United States would always have tattooists, because it was out of the norm, like burlesque."
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