By Keir Mudie

Last updated 14:36, Monday, 21 April 2008

SUNDAY diners at the Shepherd’s Inn in Carlisle were amazed to find that they were sharing a building with thousands of tattooed men and women.

• Video: watch the tattoo show

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But curious customers had a great time mingling with ink fans and body art fanatics at Carlisle’s first international tattoo convention.

Helen Lawlor, 72, from Penrith said: “We were a bit surprised when we came out after dinner and saw all these people.

“But it was a great atmosphere and everyone was really nice.

“There were some interesting examples on show – but I don’t think I’ll be getting one myself.”

Mike Haslam, 49, helped to organise the North Lakes Tattoo Show along with his co-worker Colin Fell.

Mike, who owns a tattoo studio on London Road, Carlisle said: “People can be a little bit intimidated but there is no need to be.

“All kinds of people are having tattoos done – young and old, men and women, and the atmosphere here is really friendly.

“There has been no trouble and everyone has had a great time.

“We had more than a thousand through on Saturday and double that yesterday.

“There are different artists here from the UK, America, Australia – all over the world.

“It is the first convention we have organised and it has gone better than we imagined.”

Michael Tweddle, 20, marked the first convention by having a winged skull tattooed on his back.

While he was taking a break from the three-hour process, Michael, from Wigton, said: “You just have to grin and bear it. It hurt a little bit when he was going over my spine and you could feel the machine in the bones. But it will be worth it.

“I got a little one done on my arm at a rally but people were laughing at it because it was so small. I think that this one will be a little bit different.”

Almost 40 tattoo and body piercing artists attended the show .

Gabriel Goveo – “Gabo” – is a tattoo artist from Mexico City.

Garbo – a world-famous tattoo artist – said: “I am very surprised that this is the first convention that they have had here because it is going very well and is very well supported.

“I have enjoyed every minute of it and will definitely come back if they do it again.”

See video of the event online at www.newsandstar.co.uk

kmudie@cngroup.co.uk