Tattoo artists from all over the world descended on Edinburgh at the weekend for a celebration of incredible ink.

A few already have their work displayed in books and TV shows but, for most, their bodies are their shop windows with a multi-coloured collage of work proudly on show.

Now in its sixth year, more than 4100 people passed through the doors of the Corn Exchange at the weekend, making the The Scottish Tattoo Convention the biggest one yet for founder James Aitken.

Doubling in size since its launch, James now has a team of tattoo-loving friends who help him organise the weekend event, which always brings with it a really special atmosphere.

"They are such a Marmite thing," he says. "You either love them or you hate them.

"People who love them are passionate about them. If you work in a tattoo studio for a long time, it does become all-consuming.

"It's your whole life: drawing, preparing for tattoos, doing tattoos, talking about tattoos. So when you are sitting in a room with thousands of like-minded people, it is a great feeling.

"All the people helping at the weekend are friends of mine from school days and from a long time ago. I think that makes a big difference to the atmosphere.

"One of the artists at the weekend said 'you can pay people as much as you like but you can't pay people to care'. That's the difference we have, everybody is in it together."

Artists from the US, Italy, Sweden and Belgium joined artists from across Scotland and the rest of the UK, with advance bookings made for people such as Milan tattoo artist Clod The Ripper.

"We had people from Wick, Shetland and Orkney who travelled down specifically to get tattoos from artists who had travelled here, because it is great to be able to sit and have a chat with these people," James says.

"There's a lot of the artists at the after show party who had a few beers with clients they had met during the day so it is really good."

We spoke to the tattooists to find out how ink has made them think and learn the stories behind the craft they love.

Abbie Williams from Lost Time Tattoos

Abbie first got into tattoos in her 20s and has been hooked ever since. Her favourite is her 'love story' sleeve tattoo.

"My sleeve is by Annie Frenzel," she says. "It's a love story theme based on one of my favourite films, Jeux d'enfants, which in translation is 'love me if you dare'. It is a really cheeky film.

"The object on my arm is something this couple pass between each other from being children and they dare each other and risk marriage and their lives to find each other, it is so romantic.

"The tattoo carries on with my frog prince, my swan princess and my couple.

"Tattoos are not just something you pick off a wall, there is pure artistry in it. In tattooing, you have art and craftsmanship and talent."

Clod the ripper from The INKfested House

The Milan artist, who specialises in monotone tattoos, says the decision to book his place at the convention was an easy one to make, with the lure of Scotland's capital drawing him back every year.

Although Clod struggled to pick a favourite tattoo, with 90% of his body inked, he did share a top tip he has learned along the way.

"I have lots of tattoos for girls," he laughs. "Some have been covered over the years so don't do it. Don't get tattoos for girlfriends or boyfriends.

"Some of my tattoos are because of the meaning, some are my favourite because of the people who did them, and others are just because they are beautiful."

John Philip from the Aberdeen Tattoo Collective

Making his debut on the Aberdeen Tattoo Collective stall after attending the convention as a customer for the last few years, John was unable to resist adding to his own collection over the weekend, saying there are many memories attached to the art on his skin.

"I got one from my friend who owns Red Hot and Blue for my 25th birthday, that was a present from him based on the song Yah Mo B There," he says.

"As a kid, I liked the way tats looked, that biker look of long hair and tattoos and it just kind of went from there."

Lusy Logan, model

Lusy has more than 30 tattoos on her hands alone, but it is her feet that hold her star spot.

"I have Frankenstein on one and the bride on the other because classic horror is really what I am all about," she says. "Monsters and mayhem."

"It has become an addiction. I've got 30 on my hands alone, the rest all merge into each other so I don't really know any more but probably over 1000 I reckon."

Lewis Parkin from Northside Tattooz

Newcastle's Lewis used to be scared of needles, with his first tattoo being a small Pac-Man on his ankle. His fear soon passed when he opted for his favourite tattoo on his arm.

"My left arm was done by Steve Byrne back when he worked in Leeds," he says.

"That is still my favourite. It's a Japanese sleeve which he doesn't do a lot of now. I like it because I don't think anyone does it the way he does."

Kerry-Anne Richardson from Cock A Snook

For Kerry, it is her first tattoo that holds a special place for her.

"I think my favourite would be the first I ever did on myself," she says.

"It says 'practice makes perfect' and I like it because, actually, I have been doing it a long time now and there's no such thing as perfect so it's ironic really.

"I don't do any on myself now. I have travelled all over the world to get tattoos."

Best overall on Saturday: Rob Fraser from Twit Twoo Tattoo in Edinburgh and Marcin Ptak from InkDependent Tattoo in Edinburgh.

Best small colour: Alan Proctor from Twit Twoo Tattoo in Edinburgh.

Best Scottish: James Surridge from Blue Cardinal in Rochdale.

Best large black and grey: Chavez Pattinson Borderline Tattoo Collective in Berwick Upon Tweed.

Best large colour: Billy Hay from the Bath Street Tattoo Collective in Glasgow.

Best overall on Sunday: Natalie Petal Gardiner of Angelic Hell Tattoo Studio in Brighton.

Have a look at some of the new tattoos created at the convention.

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