A DISPLAY of tattoo artwork is now being showcased at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery.

The museum is hosting more than 400 original artworks, photographs and historic artefacts in the major, new touring exhibition.

Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed, curated by National Maritime Museum Cornwall is now open at Tullie House and will be until Saturday, January 16, 2020.

The exhibition features cutting-edge designers, leading academics and major private collectors to tell a story that challenges long-standing myths and preconceptions about tattooing when it comes to class, gender and age. At the same time, it gives a voice to and celebrates the astonishingly rich artistic heritage of tattooing as an art form in the UK.

Showcasing the work of major tattoo artists from George Burchett, via the Bristol Tattoo Club, to Alex Binnie and Lal Hardy, this is the largest gathering of real objects and original tattoo artwork ever assembled in the United Kingdom.

Charli Summers, programme manager, Tullie House said: “We are delighted to be working with National Maritime Museum Cornwall to host Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed, which features unique collaborations between national organisations, collectors, artists and leading academics. The exhibition is truly one of a kind; entertaining, challenging, beautiful, and we are thrilled to provide a platform for this rich and varied art form. We have also enjoyed working with people across Cumbria to bring local tattoo stories into the exhibition by creating the Talking Tattoos documentary.”

The exhibition features items from three of the most important private collections of tattoo material in Britain, belonging to Willy Robinson, Jimmie Skuse and Paul ‘Rambo’ Ramsbottom, providing a rare opportunity to display original artwork and artefacts not otherwise on public display. The exhibition also delves into previously unseen private archives that reveal hidden histories, including the incredible real story of Britain’s pioneering female tattoo artist, Jessie Knight.

Tullie House has worked with people across Cumbria to create a new documentary, Talking Tattoos, especially for the display at the museum. Members of the public were invited to contribute images of their body art and video footage, telling the tale behind their tats.

Normal admission charges apply.