Shropshire tattoo show painting a pretty picture for cause

People of all ages are lining up across Shropshire to get ink on their arms, legs and other body parts.

New tattoo parlours are opening on a regular basis across the county as demand increases.

And the Flying Juice tattoo studio in Newport jumped in on the heightened interest in the art form to combine a love of ink with the chance to raise money for charity.

The Shropshire Tattoo Show was created last year and raised thousands of pounds for The Battle Back Centre, in Lilleshall, which helps rehabilitate injured soldiers.

This year organisers hope the weekend event at The Royal Victoria Hotel will have raised at least £3,000 for the Free Kicks Foundation.

The charity helps keep children and adults off the streets by taking them to football matches.

Ian Marshall, 47, a former youth worker who runs Flying Juice, said he hoped to make it an annual event.

"I've been doing this for about 20 years but I thought we could do something for charity last year," he said.

"It's really nice for the whole community to get involved.

"Last year about 400 people came through the doors and raised about £2,000 for The Battle Back Centre.

"This year we've decided to support the Free Kicks Foundation.

"I used to work as a youth worker, so I know how difficult it can be for people working in that field having to deal with all the red tape. This charity can really make difference and we're hoping to raise something like £3,000.

"Tattoos are definitely growing in popularity. The oldest person I've tattooed this year was a 70-year-old woman and the youngest was 18."

Jim Metcalfe, 41, from Randlay, Telford, who works as a level crossings manager for Network Rail, said he got his first tattoo while on leave with the Navy.

He now plans to use his back as a homage to actors from his favourite film genre, silent movies.

"I'm getting Laurel and Hardy done first but the main piece will be famous scene that featured Harold Lloyd, called Safety Last, where he's filmed dangling from a clock," he said.

"I see these tattoos as a life's collection and each one tells a story.

"When I was in the Navy we were told not to get tattoos while on leave, so of course everyone did. Each one now tells a story. The England one is because I'm proud of my country.

"I also went through a divorce and was very low but eventually things turned round. The phoenix tattoo shows how I came through it all stronger."

Neil Murray, from Newport, only began working as a tattoo artist just over three years ago.

The former carpenter opened Double K Tattoos in Newport after being challenged by his wife.

"It's my wife's fault I'm doing this because she had one done on her back, which I wasn't very impressed with and I took the mickey out it," he said. "I'd always been interested in painting and drawing so when my wife bought me a tattoo kit I decided to give it a go.

"I practised for about 12 months, reaching and learning, getting used to the kit.

"I must have had the world's most colourful fruit bowl because I practiced on fruit a lot. Lots of people are interested tattoos now and I've tattooed everyone from doctors to solicitors."

Ben Roberts, 23, from Cannock, who works as a data security engineer, has seven tattoos and plans to get more.

"It's about being individual because they help to make you who you are," he said.

"I'm getting an assassin tattoo today.

"I'd say the pain is manageable and this one will probably take three hours.

"I've already had one sitting of three hours so it will be six in total.

"The full sleeve on my arm took two years."