Derry is set to hold it's 12th international tattoo convention

Derry is set to host an international tattoo convention this weekend. 

Maiden City Ink is now in its 12th year and is being hosted at the Everglades Hotel from Friday, July 26th, to Sunday, July 28th. 

Zac Deeney of Skin Art Derry, the organiser of the event, can’t wait for the most popular tattoo convention in Northern Ireland.

He said: "Altogether, we have 60 artists coming. They are coming all around Ireland, with artists also coming from the UK and abroad, like Italy.

“It changes every year as there are new artists. Every year, people come and go, but it is always great to see the amount of different artists people can choose from and the different styles.

“Everybody brings something new every year.

“Every year it gets busier and better, and I wish it could get bigger as there is nowhere bigger.”

The cost of entry for the event is only £5, and Mr. Deeney encourages people to come down and witness the artwork if they want to have a tattoo produced to explore the artists, but there is also the chance to pre-book with artists to have your tattoo realised. 

Mr. Deeney is impressed by the evolution of tattoos since he began his career over 30 years ago. 

He said: “Tattoos are getting more detailed, especially with the style of realism in those life like tattoos. It is more like a painting. 

“Everybody has different techniques. It is not just everybody working during the day, but then at night everybody meets up at night and finds out what others are doing.

“Artists do have pre-bookings, and you can pre-book through their links or their socials, but most people just take walk-ups because you never know what they are going to do. 

If you bring your own design, you can just ask about it and see who is available to do it. Artists like that approach too, as it could be something they haven’t tried themselves before and they want to try a new design. 

“Now that we are in the digital age, there are so many more expressions and sharing of ideas and techniques when it comes to tattoos. 

“Some of the art by other tattooists amazes me. I think, ‘How did you do that?’ and I've been tattooing for over 30 odd years.”

Maiden City Ink opens at 10am on Friday, and it is paid at the door with no tickets necessary.

But the event is only for those over the age of 18.