First ever Great Western Tattoo Show held at Steam Museum

The sound of buzzing tattoo needles filled the Steam Museum’s Great Hall as 20 Swindon artists and 50 more from around the UK added ink to their customers, who relaxed while crowds of people strolled past.

Hundreds browsed artwork to inspire their next tattoo, enjoyed the live DJ’s music, tried a tipple at the bar and coffee area, shopped at the alternative market, snacked on street food, and stopped for a haircut.

Some tattoo artists offered walk-in appointments, though many had been fully booked up for both days before the show started.

The Steam Museum's Great Hall filled with tattoo artists for the Great Western Tattoo Show (Image: Dave Cox)

At Gloucester-based Poppy Rose Studios, manager Poppy Ward took care of tattoos while her husband Max added tooth gems and Amy Toth sorted out piercings.

Amy said: "We've been really busy, it's fun to have a bit of chaos. Everyone wants ear piercings at the moment, especially Helixes, though some go for nostril or nipple piercings instead."

Tattoo artists were fully booked with customers all weekend (Image: Dave Cox)

At the Skin Wizard studio area, Omie Nadler spoke to customers while Sam Stewart helped out.

Omie said: "It was very good, it felt like a community of tattoo artists, and the people were nice and eager. Butterflies and moths are popular at the moment."

Gary Watts of Black Heart Ink spent months getting everything ready and working with the borough council to ensure that live tattooing could be safely carried out on-site.

He said: “It went really well, it’s exciting, everyone supported each other to make it work. Tattooing is quite a chilled-out and artistic process. 

“When people see how well attended and safe this event has been, it will hopefully become a regular part of Swindon’s calendar."

Visitors could get a close-up look at the work involved in tattoos (Image: Dave Cox)

At his studio's stall, apprentice Charlotte Fox added: "We're impressed by how well Gary has put this together, everyone is really happy with it.

"I like doing the linework and delicate designs, others are better at graphics or realism, there's a wide range of different specialisms in one studio."

Dan Gallagher and Jess King enjoyed their time at the show.

Dan said: "This is our sort of thing. There's a good vibe, the tattoos look great, it's nice to have something different in Swindon, and it's good for the artists as well.

"I wouldn't get a tattoo with everyone watching, though."

The museum’s events manager Sally Langheim said: “We are thrilled to have this at Steam, the reaction has been great, and hopefully it’s the first of many."

People could get tattoos, piercings, hair cuts, or tooth gems (Image: Dave Cox)

Artists showed off examples of their designs to hundreds of people passing through (Image: Dave Cox)