London Food & Culture

The Great British Tattoo Shwo 2018

In Pictures: Great British Tattoo Show 2018

Last weekend, Alexandra Palace was alive with artists and their colourful walking-canvases

For the bulk of the bank holiday weekend, Ally Pally rung with the constant low-level buzz of ink being etched onto skin. Hundreds of renowned tattoo artists rolled into the Palace’s great hall, encased in a pair of latex gloves, ready to unleash their latest creations on their needle-yearning subjects.

Great British Tattoo Show
Photo: Clare Hand

A problem for many visitors at The Great British Tattoo Show wasn’t what they should get, but rather where they could fit another piece on their art-adorned skin. Or at least that’s what we were told by a woman who had multicoloured leopard print on her temples and paw prints on her palms.

Great British Tattoo Show
Photo: Clare Hand

We spoke with her while she was getting the final etchings of a phoenix that wrapped from her coccyx to her calf. She broke our conversation to wince in pain when her tattoo artist – who she labels “the wizard” – shaded her hamstring bright yellow.

Great British Tattoo Show
Photo: Clare Hand

“That’s the most painful body part to get done,” she says, post-wince. After a moment’s pause, she raises her elbow to the Pally’s roof, revealing the feathers on her armpit, “actually, this one was far worse.”


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Her least favourite tattoo? “I’ve got more leopard print on my crotch,” she says, “but I got it done eight years ago and it just looks like a disease now.” Note to self: keep bikini-line tattoo-free.

Great British Tattoo Show
Photo: Clare Hand

Tattoo conventions take place year-round across the country: the biggest is in Tobacco Dock – hosting a hundred more artists than this one – while the Brighton expo is said to have the warmest atmosphere.

“This is by far and away my favourite location,” says another inked-pundit, “it is just so poetic,” she adds, while pointing to the sun streaming in through the venue’s circular stained-glass windows.

Great British Tattoo Show
Photo: Clare Hand

Throughout the day the tinny hum of needles was sporadically interspersed with applause for the line-up of performers compiled by Gypsy Disco. The immersive theatrical company brought a squad of fire-cage wielding men, fire-breathing burlesque artists, bow and arrow strumming acrobats, contortionists and clowns: suitable visual fodder to admire while cling-film wrapped body parts allow art to settle into skin.

Great British Tattoo Show
Photo: Clare Hand
More on Great British Tattoo Show here, and Gypsy Disco here.

Main image: Clare Hand


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