“Inkspiration: Unveiling the Intricate World of Body Art at the London Ink Expo”

This weekend, London is buzzing with excitement as thousands of tattoo lovers have flocked to one of the biggest conventions for body art and modifications in the world. The event, spanning three days at the Tobacco Dock in east London, is a hub for tattoo enthusiasts from around the globe to display their stunning body artwork and perhaps even add some new ink to their collection. The International London Tattoo Convention features over 400 top artists from countries like South Korea, Germany, and Spain, making it a truly international affair.

At the event, some attendees are adorned with elaborate tattoos from head to toe, while others have various body modifications, including one individual with a split tongue. For many captured at the 14th annual gathering, tattoos are more than just a pastime – they are a lifestyle, with hours dedicated to creating the perfect design.
Throughout the weekend, there is a competition where guests can witness the best tattoos created during the convention. This year, the judging panel consists of renowned experts Filip Leu, Mark Mahoney, Luke Atkinson, and Tin Tin. Categories include Best Black and Grey, Best Ornamental, and Best Backpiece, with winners announced at the end of each day.

Enthusiast Shelly d'Inferno poses at the London International Tattoo Convention, showing off her multiple piercings, tats and body modifications

Enthusiast Shelly d'Inferno poses at the London International Tattoo Convention, showing off her multiple piercings, tats and body modifications

Shelly d’Inferno, a passionate individual, was proudly photographed at the London International Tattoo Convention presenting her assortment of piercings, tattoos, and unique body alterations.

Baring all: Three attendees stripped off to show the colourful tattoos covering their backs at the convention

Revealing it all: Three participants at the convention decided to bare their backs, showcasing an array of vibrant tattoos that they have.

Gloria Jiang smiles as her full back piece is photographed

Nadine Dohr displays her back tattoo featuring a tiger at the three-day event

Gloria Jiang and Nadine Dohr proudly show off their stunning and vibrant back tattoos to guests at the well-loved gathering.

Mirror image: Two body art fans with similar tattoos (and facial hair) pose next to each other at the London convention

Reflection in the mirror: A pair of body art enthusiasts showcasing matching tattoos (and rockin’ similar facial hair) strike a pose together at the London convention.

Head to head: Two tattoo enthusiasts with intricate designs snaking their way from the head to the base of the neck

Face off: Two die-hard tattoo fans showcasing elaborate artwork that starts at the top of their heads and extends down to their necks.

Two women wearing skimpy skirts to show off the body art on their legs at the convention

Two women wearing skimpy skirts to show off the body art on their legs at the convention

Two ladies donning short skirts to flaunt the intricate body tattoos on their legs at the event.

One woman shows off her leg tattoos, which include a cobweb over her left knee and a large red rose

A female proudly displays her leg ink, with a spider web design on her left knee and a vibrant red rose on the other.

Becky Whiley shows the tattoos on her hands, arms, neck and face to the camera. Many of the people at the convention are covered-head-to-toe in a variety of designs

Becky Whiley proudly displays her collection of tattoos, covering her hands, arms, neck, and even her face for the camera. The convention is filled with people adorned in an array of unique and eye-catching designs from head to toe.

A bespectacled man shows off his intricate tattoos which cover his head and neck during the convention in London

One man has the word 'Faith' running down his neck

A man with glasses proudly displays his detailed tattoos that completely cover his head on one side. Another individual has the word ‘Faith’ inked down the side of his neck.

Melanie Ezechiele, who told the Star she works in a Tattoo studio and does piercings for a living, has both black and colored ink tattoos. On her right hand is a silicone implant in the shape of a sea shell 

Melanie Ezechiele, who told the Star she works in a Tattoo studio and does piercings for a living, has both black and colored ink tattoos

Melanie Ezechiele, a tattoo artist who shared with the Star that she spends her days in a studio doing tattoos and piercings, proudly boasts a collection of both black and colored ink tattoos. One unique addition to her body art is a silicone implant in the form of a sea shell on her right hand.

Cervena Fox shows off her blazing red locks and striking make-up durinng the convention while baring her arms to reveal her sleeve tattoos

At the convention, Cervena Fox confidently flaunts her fiery red hair, bold makeup, and showcases her sleeve tattoos by wearing a sleeveless outfit.

Tattoo artists get to work on their willing subjects at the convention which celebrates impressive body art work

At the convention, tattoo artists have the opportunity to showcase their skills on enthusiastic participants who are eager to display their impressive body art.

Marking the spot: A tattoo artist draws the outline of a new body art piece on a muscular man's thigh. He already has a tattoo of a slithering beast snaking around his torso

Mapping the location: A tattooist traces the design of a fresh piece of body art onto the thigh of a strong man. His body is already adorned with a tattoo of a twisting creature winding its way around his midsection.

A man has a traditional tapping tattoo done at the convention. It involves the coloured pigment being rubbed into cuts

A gentleman at the convention opted for a classic tapping tattoo, where colorful pigment is gently massaged into incisions in the skin for a traditional and unique look.

A woman wearing stickers over his nipples reclines in a chair before having a new tattoo inked

A lady with nipple stickers relaxes in a chair just before getting a fresh tattoo done.

A man waits patiently for a tattoo artist to ink a ferocious-looking tiger on his back using purple dye

A guy is patiently waiting for a tattoo artist to put a fierce tiger design on his back using vibrant purple ink.

Traditional Japanese tattoo artist Horikashi inks a man's upper thigh during the International tattoo convention

Horikashi, a skilled tattoo artist from Japan, is seen tattooing a man’s upper thigh at the International tattoo convention.

Tattoo artist Horisumi works on a Japanese tebori  tattoo during the convention in London

Horisumi, a skilled tattoo artist, was seen creating a traditional Japanese tebori tattoo at a convention in London.

A woman waits patiently for a tattoo artist to complete an inking on her upper back. She already has a tattoo sleeve on her right arm

As the tattoo artist meticulously works on her upper back, a woman sits still, eagerly anticipating the finished design. Her right arm already adorned with a sleeve of tattoos, she is adding to her collection with this new piece of body art.

Feet up: A bespectacled man is in good spirits as he has an inking done on his left leg, adding to the tattoos he already has on his arms

Kicking back: A cheerful guy with glasses is getting a new tattoo on his left leg, adding to his collection of ink on his arms.

Completing the look: A man with a tiger tattooed on his torso has another inking on his chest at the convention

Finishing the ensemble: One attendee at the convention sported a tiger tattoo on his stomach as well as a new tattoo on his chest.

A man listens to music using earphones as a tattoo artist works on an inking on his left thigh

While a tattoo artist diligently works on a design on his left thigh, a man tunes into his favorite tunes through his earphones.

A woman with a nose piercing has a tattoo inked on her upper chest at the London convention

In London, a woman with a nose piercing decided to get a tattoo on her upper chest during the convention.

A young man has a tattoo inked on his lower back at the convention in London

A convention-goer in London recently got a tattoo done on his lower back.

A body art fan adds to his already extensive collection of tattoos which snake from his upper back to the base of his thighs

A body art fan adds to his already extensive collection of tattoos which snake from his upper back to the base of his thighs

An enthusiast of body art expands his diverse tattoo collection, which winds its way from the top of his back down to the bottom of his thighs.

Tattoo artists sketch colourful designs at the convention. One woman shows off a dazzling pink and black mohawk (left)

At the convention, tattoo artists are busy creating vibrant designs. One attendee stands out with her striking pink and black mohawk.

A man shows off his facial tattoos while wearing a pair of spiked sunglasses

A man shows off his facial tattoos while wearing a pair of spiked sunglasses

Intense Stare: A guy flaunts his face ink as he sports some badass spiked shades.

Tattoo enthusiast Patrick Theiler poses for a portrait at the London International Tattoo Convention

Tattoo enthusiast Patrick Theiler poses for a portrait at the London International Tattoo Convention

Patrick Theiler, a fan of tattoos, strikes a pose for a photo at the renowned London International Tattoo Convention.

A tattoo fan shows off his facial body art

A man displays the skull-like design on the back of his head

One enthusiast flaunts his unique facial tattoo, while another proudly showcases a skull-inspired design inked on the back of his head.

A man displays his tongue split and tattoos on his head and cheeks

A woman gets her chest tattooed at the event, where competitions are held for the best designs

At the convention, a guy reveals his split tongue, achieved by cutting the tongue down the middle from the tip to the base and creating a forked end. Meanwhile, a woman is getting a chest tattoo in the same event.

Rafel Delelande

Patrick Theiler

Rafel Delelande and Patrick Theiler, both passionate about tattoos, were photographed at a convention in London.

Rafel Delelande, who is an artist based in London at Seven Doors Studio, has hundreds of tattoos covring his body

Rafel Delelande, an artist working out of Seven Doors Studio in London, is known for his extensive collection of body art, with numerous tattoos adorning his skin.

Enthusiast Rafel Delelande's body art included smaller pieces on his hands and large blocks of dark ink over his shoulders

Passionate body art enthusiast Rafel Delelande adorned his hands with intricate smaller tattoos and covered his shoulders with large, bold blocks of dark ink.

A vast array of body modifications such a facial piercings and extreme eyeball tattoos were also spotted around the event

A wide variety of body alterations like facial piercings and bold eyeball tattoos could be seen throughout the gathering.

The tattoos on display show the dedication of both the artists and person getting inked

More than 400 experts were at the show, displaying their skill

Patrick, who came all the way from Minnesota, shared with the Daily Star that he came to London for the weekend to complete his full body tattoo. He proudly described his tattoo as a ‘masterpiece’ that required a total of 280 hours to finish.

Tattoo artist Sakyo (right) and Wang Ching-Tun, both of Diao Zuo tattoo, show their body art and high level of skill

Sakyo and Wang Ching-Tun, talented tattoo artists from Diao Zuo tattoo studio, proudly display their intricate body artwork and exceptional craftsmanship.

Women show off their tattoos at the convention wearing revealing and colourful outfits

Women show off their tattoos at the convention wearing revealing and colourful outfits

Females proudly display their tattoo artwork at the London convention in vibrant and eye-catching attire.

Laid bare: Some body art fans had such heavily-tattooed backs and legs that they decided to attend the convention almost nude

Exposed: A number of body art enthusiasts proudly showed off their extensively tattooed backs and legs at the convention, opting for minimal clothing to fully display their impressive ink designs.

Full-on: A man proudly displays his extravagant tattoos with a red, black and green floral theme which cover his entire back, arms and legs

All in: A guy confidently flaunts his elaborate tattoos featuring a colorful floral design in red, black, and green adorning his back, arms, and legs.

Two women show off their jaw-dropping body art. Their tattoos snake all the way down the backs, over their buttocks and down their thighs

Two ladies flaunt their stunning body artwork, with intricate tattoos that extend from their backs all the way down to their thighs, showcasing a mesmerizing display of creativity and style.

Dare to bare: Two women chat during the convention while displaying the intricate floral tattoos on their backs

Taking the plunge: Two ladies gossip at the conference while proudly showing off the detailed flower tattoos adorning their backs.

Two women show off their back tattoos. One completes her look with a pair of white skull-themed earrings

Two ladies proudly display their intricate back tattoos, with one adding a touch of edginess by accessorizing with white skull-themed earrings.

Punks: Three men showed off some impressive mohawks at the convention, with one dividing his dyed red hair into six strands and gelling it so it pointed in different directions

At the convention, three guys rocked some seriously cool mohawks, one of them even took it to the next level by dividing his bright red hair into six distinct strands and styling them in different directions using gel.

Men show off their tattoos at the convention

Men show off their tattoos at the convention

A man decided to express his beliefs by getting bold slogans inked onto his face. Among them was the word ‘Freedom’ prominently displayed across his neck in big capital letters.

One man had geometric patterns tattooed over his entire back, buttocks and legs

A guy decided to get intricate geometric designs inked all over his back, buttocks, and legs.

A woman performs during the convention wearing a revealing black basque decorated with sparkly jewels

At the convention, a female entertainer captivates the audience with her performance in a striking black corset adorned with glittering gemstones.

Scroll to Top